Swiss Estonian Society brings children, young people, and adults closer to science in Zurich
On 13 September and 3 October, the Swiss Estonian Society held its Science Days in Zurich. Children and young people had the chance to put their knowledge to the test through puzzles and experiments and meet Madis Roosma, winner of the Estonian TV science competition Rakett 69. Adults, meanwhile, were introduced to the genetics of women’s health by professor Triin Laisk of the University of Tartu.
On 13 September, a cosy school building in Zurich was filled with the Estonian language. More than 20 children and their parents gathered for the Science Day. The day began with welcoming words from Annika Keller, president of the Swiss Estonian Society, and Peep Belbaum, head of the Estonian Children’s and Youth Club (ELNK).
The children were then given their Science Day passports and instructions before setting off to tackle the various activity stations. The challenges were anything but ordinary! They had to guess how many coins were in a glass and calculate their total value, or work out how many tennis balls would fit into a box. At one station, they had to build the tallest possible tower out of spaghetti and marshmallows and then measure its height. Perhaps the question that required the most thought, though, was how many tennis balls would be needed to fill an entire room.
There were no ready-made answers to look up. The children had to think for themselves, experiment, and simply guess.
After a break for food and conversation, the children sat down with Madis to talk about mathematics and his journey into the world of science. Participants could ask him anything that came to mind – from taking part in and winning the TV competition to mathematics and his current studies.
Questions came from both young and old, and it soon became clear that Madis has been passionate about mathematics from a very early age. One story dates back to when Madis was still of kindergarten age. While his older brother was learning the multiplication tables at home, Madis was apparently able to give the answers even faster than his brother. In the end, their mother had to take him out of the room so that his brother could study in peace. Later, Madis took part in the Kangaroo mathematics competition and mathematics olympiads.
He applied to take part in the TV show Rakett 69 on the recommendation of people he knew. His experience in olympiads was certainly one of his strengths, but, as he pointed out, luck also plays a part in a competition of this kind. He believes that winning the final also came down largely to luck.
Madis also shared some insights into what goes on behind the scenes of the show. The finalists had to work out for themselves what materials they would need to complete the challenges. The production had access to a large warehouse where they could choose suitable materials and equipment. If something they needed was not available in the warehouse, they were given money to buy it. Although filming the season took place over an extended period, the actual filming days added up to around two weeks.
Naturally, the participants also wanted to know what Madis had received for winning the competition. In addition to a laptop and a scholarship, he had the opportunity to do an internship over the summer at CGI Eesti OÜ, an international IT and business consulting company whose areas of focus include space technology. This certainly got some of the listeners thinking about the exciting opportunities that knowledge, curiosity, and the courage to take on new challenges can open up.
Another question that sparked interest was whether people in Estonia recognise Madis on the street after his victory on the show. Madis smiled and suggested that Estonians in general tend to be rather reserved. A few people have come up to say hello in the street, but this has only happened on a couple of occasions. Sometimes, when he is cycling, he notices someone looking at him for a little longer than usual. At such moments, Madis has wondered whether they recognised him or were simply checking whether it was safe to cross the road.
Madis is currently studying mathematics at the University of Tartu and, alongside his studies, teaches mathematics to first-year computer science students. One of his most memorable experiences, however, was a 30-day trip to China, where, despite his young age, he accompanied the Estonian team as one of the supervisors at a mathematics olympiad. There, he met people from all over the world who shared his passion for mathematics.
In the future, Madis sees himself working primarily in IT, possibly also at a university. At the same time, he does not want to narrow down his options too soon – there is plenty of time, and many different doors may open.
To round off the Science Day, the children were divided into six mixed-age groups. Their challenge was to build a bridge between two chairs using 20 sheets of paper, strong enough to support Peep’s shoe. They were also allowed to use a little adhesive tape and had ten minutes to complete the task.
Each group approached the challenge in its own way, and most succeeded in building a sturdy bridge. This is a challenge well worth trying at home, too: all you need is paper, adhesive tape, two chairs and a willingness to experiment and, if necessary, rethink your initial idea.
The genetics of the health of women: what can science teach us?
On 3 October, the Swiss Estonian Society held its next science day in Zurich. This time, the guest speaker was Triin Laisk, professor of Genomic Epidemiology at the Institute of Genomics of the University of Tartu, who received the 2026 Estonian National Science Award for her body of work entitled ‘The Genetics of the Health of Women’.
Her presentation, ‘How Genetic Research Helps Us Better Understand the Health of Women’, introduced the subject in an accessible way for a broad audience. It was followed by a lengthy and lively discussion. Triin admitted that she had never received as many questions or so much feedback after any of her other presentations as she did in Zurich.
In addition to presenting her research, Triin also spoke about challenging misconceptions surrounding the health of women. She explained that there is a great deal of conflicting and often misleading information circulating about women’s health, particularly hormonal health. Social media offers simple explanations and solutions to complex health problems, which may have no scientific basis.
According to Triin, one of the greatest challenges is explaining that science does not always provide black-and-white answers. There is still much we do not know about the health of women. However, this lack of knowledge should not be filled with unfounded claims or overly simplistic explanations.
One of the key messages of the meeting was that evidence-based information can help dispel many fears and support people in making decisions about their health. Science helps us better understand both what we already know and what still needs to be investigated.
After the presentation and lively discussion, the evening continued with a barbecue, giving participants an opportunity to carry on their conversations and exchange ideas.
Find out more
Interview of Madis Roosma on Terevisioon: https://jupiter.err.ee/1609988085/rakett-69-voitja-madis-roosma
The inaugural lecture by professor Triin Laisk, ‘The Health of Women Through the Lens of Genomic Epidemiology’, will take place on 11 November at 4.15 p.m. The lecture will be streamed live: https://ut.ee/et/uudis/professor-triin-laisk-raagib-inauguratsiooniloengul-kuidas-geeniuuringud-aitavad-naiste
The Swiss Estonian Society: https://www.eestiselts.ch/
The Swiss Estonian Society received funding to organise the Science Days through the ‘Support for Self-Initiated Projects by Estonian Communities Abroad 2026’ grant programme of the Integration Foundation, funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Text: Grete Bühler and Annika Keller
Editor: Integration Foundation
