Program Directed by
Julian Hartmann-Russell
If you have questions or would like to talk further about this program, please get in touch!
Switzerland
CERN & the Future of Science
Immerse yourself in diverse and cutting-edge scientific research this summer while traveling through three distinct regions of Switzerland, a country renowned for its cultural offerings, dramatic landscapes, and leading laboratories. On this high school travel program, meet with researchers in physics, biotechnology, robotics, and climate science. See first-hand how their work is addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges, expand your understanding of scientific advances, and explore possible career paths in science and technology.
- Highlights
• Visit CERN, home of the Large Hadron Collider particle accelerator
• Raft down the River Lütschine into the turquoise Interlaken
• Work alongside robotics researchers at the Bern University of Applied Sciences
• Participate in a workshop with climate scientists at the Jungfraujoch
• Raft down the River Lütschine into the turquoise Interlaken
• Work alongside robotics researchers at the Bern University of Applied Sciences
• Participate in a workshop with climate scientists at the Jungfraujoch
“Bella had nothing but great things to say about her group and the leaders.”
—Kathleen F. & Michael D., West Roxbury, MA
Featured
Experts
An Expert joins each Career program for a portion of the itinerary, lending their insights and perspectives to the experience.
Christie Aschwanden is author of the New York Times bestseller, Good to Go: What the Athlete in All of Us Can Learn From the Strange Science of Recovery; co-host of Emerging Form, a podcast about the creative process; and host and producer of Uncertain,...
Christie Aschwanden is author of the New York Times bestseller, Good to Go: What the Athlete in All of...
Itinerary
This itinerary represents our best projection of the group’s schedule. However, we may implement changes designed to improve the quality of the program.
Departure — Travel Day
Meet your fellow high school student travelers and one or more of your leaders in Newark, and fly together to Geneva, Switzerland. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Geneva — 4 days
Begin in Geneva and get to know your peers and leaders with a group orientation. Gain important context and framing from your leaders, then dive into the world of physics with a visit to the European Organization for Nuclear Research, known as CERN, home of the Large Hadron Collider particle accelerator, and birthplace of the World Wide Web. At CERN, visit a physics research facility, participate in hands-on labs with CERN staff, and have lunch with researchers doing cutting-edge work. As a leading research institution with a mission to share its science, entrance and activities at CERN are free of charge to visitors and our tours are conducted by volunteer CERN Guides. Next, head to the neuroscience labs at Campus Biotech, and learn how biosensor technology is being developed to measure brain activity, with the goal of improving health outcomes for debilitating diseases. Then, dip into Swiss culture with a hands-on chocolate workshop with a world-class pastry chef.
Bern — 3 days
Travel east for an immersive robotics workshop alongside professors from the Bern University of Applied Sciences. Delve into the latest theories behind technology-enhanced communication and how humans and robots communicate. Discuss the human brain’s attempts to keep up with the evolution and performance of the machines we’ve invented, while exploring spaces designed for optimum collaboration between robotic and human workers. Afterward, swim in the pristine Aare River and pay a visit to the Albert Einstein museum.
Interlaken — 4 days
Slow down and relax on the shores of Interlaken, two lakes joined by the Aare River and ringed by snow-covered peaks. Explore the nearby valley, ride on the elegantly engineered Schilthorn Cableway, or raft down the rapids of the River Lütschine. Then ascend by train to the Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe. Here, with the dramatic Jungfrau and Eiger peaks as a backdrop, meet with climate scientists who research the effects of climate change on the Alps’ glaciers, and measure changes in the atmosphere through an ice core sampling workshop. Take an evening trip to a nearby high-elevation observatory for an astronomy discussion and observation of celestial bodies. Present your independent project to your group and enjoy a final celebratory meal, reflecting on your experiences together and what you’ve learned.
Return — Travel Day
Fly from Geneva, Switzerland, to Newark with your group and a leader, then continue on to your final destination. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Featured
Leaders
Meet some of our featured leaders. Please note that these may not be your leaders for the program.
Featured
Leaders
Meet some of our featured leaders. Please note that these may not be your leaders for the program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Review specific program questions here. For more general information, visit our full FAQ:
What are the main focuses of this program?
Our Career Switzerland program is a science travel program designed for high school students (grades 9–12) to explore a range of scientific topics and disciplines, including physics, biotechnology, robotics, and climate science, through daily interactions with researchers, instructors, and facilities. The labs our students visit are expressly committed to science education, and the researchers we meet are excited to work with students, passionate about their fields, and committed to educating the next generation of innovative scientific leaders, particularly from underrepresented groups. A typical day involves a laboratory visit followed by a hands-on activity designed to immerse students in current, cutting-edge research. Experts often join the group for a small-group discussion after our visit, giving students the opportunity to learn more about the life of a scientist and possible career paths in the sciences.
Will students have the opportunity to practice the local language?
Proficiency in French or Swiss German is not required for this program. However, if you study either language you will have opportunities to practice while communicating with local people. If you don’t speak French or Swiss German, you will have the opportunity to learn some basic language skills.
What is an Independent Project?
All students on Putney programs pursue an independent project as a way to more deeply engage with the program’s themes or aspects of local culture that are of particular interest to them—in Switzerland, you might explore the ethical implications of artificial intelligence, create a blog featuring interviews with particle physicists, analyze technology used to replace damaged neurological tissue, or develop a podcast episode describing the effects of climate change on snowpack in the Alps.
What is the technology and cell phone policy?
To encourage full engagement and immersion in the Putney Student Travel experience, we limit the use of cell phones and other devices on our High School programs. Students are allowed to use their phones in transit to and from the program. During in-country orientation, leaders facilitate a call home, then collect and securely store all phones for the first half of the program. At the end of this tech-free period, leaders return student phones for the second half of the program. During the tech-free portion of the program, students have the opportunity for a weekly call home according to a pre-arranged schedule. For more details, please see our FAQ.
How physically active is this program?
This is a physically active summer travel program. Students can expect hiking, rafting, and city walking during their time in Switzerland. You do not need to be at peak fitness to participate, but it is important that you have a desire to be physically active, and that you are excited about trying all activities.
Does this program visit high altitudes?
Yes, this program visits a few high altitude destinations—the group will spend one day at elevations over 11,000 feet/3,353 meters while visiting the Jungfraujoch, and may hike at elevations around 10,000 feet/3,048 meters on other excursions.
What are the accommodations for this program?
The group stays in small family-run hotels and inns within walking distance of parks, restaurants, and museums. In Geneva, we stay in a quiet neighborhood hotel near Lake Geneva; in Bern, a comfortable hostel just outside of the Old Town; and in Interlaken, a cozy and classically Swiss family-run hotel. Leaders reside with students for the duration of the program.
What are meals like in Switzerland?
Breakfast is always taken at our accommodations. Other meals are eaten at restaurants or picnic style, depending on the day’s activities, and consist of hearty, comforting cuisines shaped by French, German, and Northern Italian influences.
What type of student is most successful on this program?
Putney’s Career Switzerland program is designed for high school students with strong interests in exploring scientific fields and topics outside of the classroom, and who are curious about potential career paths in the sciences. This program is an especially good fit for those interested in the fields of physics, biology, neuroscience, robotics, and climate science. The most successful students are curious, adaptable, and excited about diving into cutting-edge research while exploring Swiss culture and landscapes.
What makes Switzerland a good location for a Putney Student Travel program?
Switzerland is an ideal setting for this science-focused program, home to world-renowned scientific research institutions alongside rich cultural diversity and striking alpine landscapes. Putney has been taking students to Switzerland since our very first program in 1951. Students gain firsthand exposure to emergent innovations while exploring a country at the crossroads of Europe’s academic discoveries and cultures. From studying alpine glacier fields with Swiss glaciologists to engaging with international neuroscientists, this program immerses students in science through varied, real-world experiences that deepen and inspire learning.
How does the Switzerland program compare to Putney’s other Career programs?
Putney’s Career Switzerland program is grounded in an interdisciplinary approach, exposing students to multiple scientific fields. Rather than focusing on a single career path, students engage with experts across settings—from advanced labs to alpine research environments. The breadth of these experiences, combined with visits to leading institutions, creates a uniquely immersive and wide-ranging exploration of science.
Do students need prior experience or specific skills to join this program?
Students don’t need any prior experience or specific skills to join our Career Switzerland program. The program is intentionally designed to be accessible to beginners seeking an introduction to multiple scientific fields. The most successful students come with an open mind, a willingness to try new things, and the ability to participate positively in a supportive, small-group environment.
What outcomes, skills, or growth can students expect to gain from this experience?
Students develop a deeper understanding of scientific fields through direct engagement with researchers and hands-on experiences. They build critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills while navigating new academic and cultural environments. Through an independent project, they also pursue a focused area of interest in depth, fostering curiosity, independence, and greater clarity about future academic and career paths.
Putney students also gain soft skills: a greater degree of confidence, independence, adaptability, and stronger communication. Living and learning in a small group also builds close friendships and a broader global perspective. Overall, students come away more self-assured, curious, and with a clearer sense of what they might want to pursue in the future.
A Day in the Life: Geneva
Due to the traveling nature of this student program abroad, each day is different. Here is a snapshot of a day in Geneva.
- Morning
9:00am
Eat a hearty Swiss breakfast at your hotel with your group
10:00am
Ride the city’s tram to Campus Biotech for meetings with biotechnology lab researchers
- Afternoon
12:00pm
Join scientists for lunch at Campus Biotech’s cafeteria
2:00pm
Stroll along the Lake Geneva shoreline and take a water taxi to a lakeside café
4:00pm
Join award-winning chocolatiers for a hands-on chocolate-making workshop
- Evening
6:00pm
Enjoy some downtime at the hotel and work on your independent project
8:00pm
Walk to a neighborhood restaurant and sample Swiss favorites like rösti and fondue
10:00pm
Meet as a group to reflect on the day and discuss tomorrow’s schedule
“It was so great to be experiencing new things and learning about new places again!”
—Kedhar B., Passaic County Technical Institute, Wayne, NJ
