Data Privacy Policy

This privacy policy informs you about how and for what purpose personal data is processed when visiting the website researchearth.scnat.ch. It is based on the SCNAT Data Privacy Policy, Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP) and, where applicable, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of the European Union.

1. Controller

Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT)
entered in the Register of Companies as an association (Verein)
House of Academies
Laupenstrasse 7
P.O. Box
3001 Bern
Switzerland

Tel. +41 31 306 93 00
E-mail: datenschutz@scnat.ch
Register of Companies and VAT number: CHE-112.106.433

2. General Principles of Data Processing

SCNAT processes personal data solely within the limits of legal provisions and only to the extent necessary to provide and operate this website.

3. Data Collected

The SCNAT IT System captures data such as IP address, smartphone or computer Mac address, details of the device and settings, cookies, date and time visited, pages and content accessed, functions used, referring website and location data every time websites operated by SCNAT are visited.

These data are stored temporarily in the SCNAT IT Systems' log files. They are not stored with the visitors' other Personal Data. This data is used to ensure the operation and security of the website.

When visiting the website researchearth.scnat.ch, you may choose to provide additional personal data via contact forms, such as:

Name
Affiliation
Email address
Information on research projects

This data is collected solely if you wish to submit content to be published on the website.

4. Use of Google Maps

The website researchearth.scnat.ch integrates Google Maps, provided by Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.

Google Maps is integral to display geographic information on institutions.

Google collects and processes your personal data when using Google Maps on the basis of their data protection provisions. Personal data (e.g., your IP address) may be transmitted to Google servers in the USA. The USA is not considered a country with an adequate level of data protection according to Art. 16 FADP. There is a risk that U.S. authorities may access the data without effective legal remedies being available to you.

For more information on Google's data protection practices, see:
https://policies.google.com/privacy

5. Cookies

Cookies required for the proper function of the website are used when visiting «researchearth.scnat.ch». SCNAT websites only use technically necessary cookies. With the integration of Google Maps, additional third-party cookies might be used on the basis of the data protection provisions by Google Ireland Limited.

Cookies are small files that are stored on the visitors' mobile devices or computers if they visit or use the websites. Cookies can store the visitor's preferences or identify these with repeated use of the websites. When a cookie is activated, an identification number (cookie ID) is allocated to this cookie. This cookie is used to identify the visitor's browser and allows the information the cookie contains to be used.

Most web browsers accept cookies automatically. Website visitors can, however, control the use of cookies by changing their web browser's settings. They can stipulate that no cookies should be accepted, that a question should be asked before a cookie is accepted from a website they have visited, and that cookies should be deactivated or restricted. Cookies that have been stored already can be deleted at any time. This can take place automatically. If cookies for the websites are refused or deactivated, it is possible that not all the functions may still be used to the full.

6. Disclosure of Data

Personal data is generally not disclosed to third parties unless this is required by law.

7. Your Rights

Under the FADP, you have the following rights in particular:

Access to your stored data
Rectification of incorrect data
Deletion of your data, provided no legal retention obligations exist
Restriction of processing
Withdrawal of consent (if processing is based on consent)

You can direct inquiries to: datenschutz@scnat.ch

8. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational security measures to protect your data from loss, manipulation, and unauthorised access.

9. Changes

This privacy policy may be updated at any time. The version published on the website is always the current version.

Effective date: April 2026

To the GRP-Alliance Website