Teaching Awards 2025: When Teaching Makes a Difference
For the second year in a row, the Association of Science Students (AESc) has presented the Teaching Awards—an initiative born from a desire to celebrate the richness of teaching and to thank those who, through their dedication, the clarity of their explanations, or simply their contagious passion, leave a lasting mark on students' academic journeys.
Following a very well-received first edition in 2024, the project has established itself this year as a symbolic moment of recognition, supported by the Faculty of Science’s Dean’s Office. It reflects a broader ambition: to highlight the many forms that university teaching can take, and to foster ongoing dialogue between pedagogy and the student community.
2025: Celebrating Inspiration
Each year, a theme sets the tone for voting and selection. For the 2025 edition, the key word was “inspiration” — a way to honour those teachers who go beyond transmitting knowledge to awaken vocations, stimulate critical thinking, or simply spark a thirst for learning.
The winners were selected based on a survey sent to all students, inviting them to nominate the teachers who had the greatest impact on their academic year. A committee from AESc, made up of representatives from the various sections, then reviewed the responses to ensure a balanced and representative evaluation.
The result? Four laureates who embody the ability to convey much more than content: a vision of science, a caring rigor, and a generous approach to teaching.
2025 Teaching Award Recipients
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Prof. Davy Guillarme — Section of Pharmaceutical Sciences
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Prof. Joël Ruch — Section of Earth and Environmental Sciences
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Prof. Claude Piguet — Section of Chemistry and Biochemistry
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Prof. Thierry Giamarchi — Section of Physics
At the graduation ceremony, it was Axel Grand, president of the AESc, who took the stage to present the awards and share a few words:
“The Teaching Awards may not be the Nobel Prizes... but they have something in common: they remind us that recognition is never guaranteed, and that many truly deserve it.”
With both humor and sincerity, he reminded the audience that this project was born from a simple need: to say thank you. Thank you to those who take the time, who listen, who adapt, who challenge, and who inspire. And also, to encourage all faculty members to continue innovating, experimenting, and teaching with passion.
What’s Next?
The AESc hopes to further develop the Teaching Awards in the coming years—by diversifying the categories, recognizing mentorship and pedagogical innovation, and involving even more students in the process.
Congratulations to the 2025 laureates! And thank you to all the educators who, every day, bring science to life through teaching.
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