Public Events

The 18th Right Livelihood Lecture took place at the University of Zurich on December 4, 2025. On this occasion, the current Laureate Audrey Tang came to Zurich.

Audrey Tang is a civic hacker and technologist who rewires systems for the public good. As Taiwan’s cyber ambassador and first digital minister, she showed how technology could deepen trust, giving millions a direct role in shaping policy. Having proven these systems in Taiwan, Tang now shares this playbook worldwide, using openness and co-creation to fight polarisation and renew democracy.

The fifth edition of the lecture series will take place from March to May 2025. You can find more information at Continuing education

The 17th Right Livelihood Lecture took place at the University of Zurich on 28 November. On this occasion, the current laureate Joan Carling came to Zurich.

Joan Carling is an indigenous activist from the Philippines who has been campaigning for the rights of indigenous peoples for more than 30 years. Her work ranges from the grassroots to the international level and encompasses human rights, sustainable development, climate justice and the fight against land grabbing. Since the late 1990s, Carling has led several organisations for the rights of indigenous peoples. She continues to play a key role in making indigenous people's voices heard in the Philippines, Asia and around the world. Her goal is to end the systematic marginalisation and criminalisation of indigenous communities.

On October 3rd, Right Livelihood announced this year's winners of the "Alternative Nobel Prize" in Stockholm. Accordingly, we invited people to celebrate with us at the Kulturpark. The evening offered the opportunity to learn more about the laureates on the day of the announcement and to meet and exchange with colleagues from the university and civil society here in Zurich.
 
With contributions from Prof. Dr. Gesine Krüger (Department of History, University of Zurich and Board Member Right Livelihood Switzerland), Prof. Dr. Dr. Andreas Maercker (Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich), Dr. Katharina Weikl (Head of Art x Science, University of Zurich), Prof. Dr. Katharina Michaelowa  (Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Zurich).

More information on the entire lecture series

The 16th Right Livelihood Lecture took place at the University of Zurich on 7 December 2023. On this occasion,  the current award-winning organisation SOS MEDITERRANEE came to Zurich. 

SOS MEDITERRANEE is a European maritime humanitarian organisation that rescues people in distress in the Mediterranean, the world's deadliest migration route. Since the beginning of its search and rescue operations, the organisation has brought more than 38,500 people to safety. SOS MEDITERRANEE was founded in response to the tragic deaths in the Mediterranean and the European Union's inability to effectively tackle this problem. In addition to providing medical and psychosocial care on the ground, the survivors are also given a voice by having their stories documented by the organisation.

On Thursday, 28 September 2023, Right Livelihood announced the winners of the "Alternative Nobel Prize" in Stockholm. Accordingly, we invited people to celebrate with us at the Kulturpark.
 The evening offered the opportunity to learn more about the laureates on the day of the announcement and to meet and exchange with colleagues from the university and civil society here in Zurich.
 
With contributions from Marie-Claire Graf, climate activist, Prof. Dr. Reinhard Loske and Right Livelihood and PD. Dr. Kijan Espahangizi, Prof. Dr. Gesine Krüger and Prof. Kai Niebert of the University of Zurich.

The second edition of our lecture series took place from 09 March to 01 June 2023. You can find more information under Continuing Education

On 23 November 2022, the 15th Right Livelihood Lecture took place at the University of Zurich. Somali human rights defenders Fartuun Adan and Ilwad Elman, came to Zurich for this edition. With their organisation Elman Peace, mother and daughter have developed innovative and culturally specific approaches to support survivors of gender-based violence. They also provide women and young people with vocational training and leadership skills and rehabilitate former child soldiers.

Ole von Uexküll, Prof. Dr. Gesine Krüger, Prof. Dr. Gabriele Siegert and PD. Dr. Aline Steinbrecher led through the evening.

More about Ilwad Elman and Fartuun Adan in the article by Patrizia Schmid

On 29 September, Right Livelihood announced this year's winners of the "Alternative Nobel Prize" in Stockholm. Accordingly, we invited people to celebrate with us at the Kulturpark.
 The evening offered the opportunity to learn more about the laureates on the day of the announcement and to meet and exchange with colleagues from the university and civil society here in Zurich.
 
With contributions from Prof. Dr. Silvia Sasse UZH, Prof. Dr. Corinne Pernet PHZ, Dr. Jeannette Behringer Nachhaltigkeitsteam UZH, Dr. Matthias Huss ZKSD, Prof. Dr. Gesine Krüger UZH and Dr. Monika Griefahn, Right Livelihood.

Under the title "Water is a Right - Still Hopeful", Maude Barlow appeared at the University of Zurich (on Tuesday, 17 May 2022. During the event, Maude Barlow presented the University with the official certificate of admission to the Blue Community. The University of Zurich (UZH) has decided to join the international Blue Community network and receiveved the certificate at this event. It sees its role in particular in gaining and communicating factual knowledge on the principles of the network in research and teaching. But UZH also wants to make a contribution in its operations by increasing the use of tap water instead of bottled water.