What role can a small country like Switzerland play in resolving global climate and energy problems? This year swissworld.org will document some of the innovative solutions developed by Swiss scientists, architects and engineers to combat these problems.

Following on from the solar catamaran, the solar plane and the family home without a conventional heating system, we are set to bring you the story behind the high-tech, eco-friendly alpine refuge and the hydrogen-fuelled car.

To find out more, check out our Green Technology series.

Successful opening day
The Swiss Pavilion at the Expo 2010 in Shanghai has proved to be a great hit with the public. The numbers speak for themselves: around 10,000 people pass through its doors on a daily basis, making it one of the most popular country pavilions. The major draw undoubtedly has been the ski lift which takes visitors to the pavilion’s rooftop terrace. However, the pavilion restaurant and shop have also attracted streams of visitors. The pavilion has also enjoyed extensive media coverage both in China and Switzerland.

Take a virtual tour of the Swiss Pavilion at the official website: www.swisspavilion.ch.

Four years ago, a special exhibition devoted to Albert Einstein opened at the Historische Museum in Bern. In early June 2010, it opened at the Science and Technology Museum (CSTM) in Beijing, where it will remain until 6 October 2010. Beijing is the first stop on the exhibition’s tour of China. After the Chinese capital, the exhibition will travel on to Canton, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

To read more about the exhibition, go to the Einstein Exhibition page on our website.

Like most of the planet, Swiss football fans will be avidly watching events unfold in South Africa this summer, the venue for the 2010 World Cup. This will be the ninth time the “Nati”, as the national team is affectionately known in Switzerland, will play in this global tournament.

Switzerland may not be considered a major footballing nation, but it is home to two of the sport’s most important institutions. To discover which ones, take a look at our football page.

By this point, there are very few football spectators left who are unfamiliar with the sound of the vuvuzela, the plastic blowing horn so beloved of South African fans. But did you know that Switzerland has its own version of the vuvuzela? At several metres long, the alphorn was originally a way for alpine herdsmen to communicate with one another. Today it is chiefly associated with Swiss folk music. Head to our page on Swiss folk music to discover more.