Chemical Landmark 2026 of the SCNAT honors Arosa and Erwin Schrödinger

The Chemistry Platform of the Swiss Academy of Sciences has established the “Chemical Landmark” program to identify and highlight scientific and technological heritage in the field of chemistry within Switzerland.

Switzerland is particularly grateful to chemistry, its discoveries and successes in research, and the resulting chemical industry for a large part of its economic success. Significant places in the history of chemistry here in Switzerland are designated as “Historical Sites of Chemistry” in order to remind chemists, students, teachers, historians, and the general public of chemical discoveries, famous chemists, and the places where they worked.

In January 2026, Arosa will be designated a Chemical Landmark. Exactly 100 years ago, Erwin Schrödinger formulated the equation named after him here as a basis for quantum mechanics.

Instead of following his passion for skiing, physicist Erwin Schrödinger developed the so-called Schrödinger equation during his Christmas vacation in Arosa in 1925/1926. This equation allows us to describe the behavior of the smallest particles: not where they are, but how likely it is that they are at a certain position. The equation forms the foundation of quantum physics and quantum chemistry and has revolutionized science and society. Without it, there would be no computers, solar cells, GPS, or smartphones, among other things. In 1933, Schrödinger received the Nobel Prize for his work.

On January 11, 2026, the Platform Chemistry of the SCNAT invites interested community members to celebrate this achievement in Arosa. The event at Hotel Blatter's (Blatter's Arosa Hotel, Untere Waldpromenade 2-6, 7050 Arosa) is open to the public, but space is limited. Please register here:

Registration Chemical Landmark 2026, Arosa