Between 24 and 26 February 2026, our team had the pleasure of visiting our partner laboratory at the Swiss Human Institute of Forensic Taphonomy (SHIFT) in Lausanne, Switzerland. We were warmly welcomed by Jiří Hodeček, who invited us and introduced us to the rest of the team, including Vincent Varlet, head of SHIFT, and Emely Schnuerpel. During our stay, we were shown the laboratory facilities, the outdoor experimental sites where decomposition of pigs is studied, and also the unique site where donated human bodies can be studied in above-ground conditions. This makes the Lausanne facility the first site in Europe to allow decomposition studies of donated human bodies on the surface, which is a major step for forensic taphonomy research. The visit gave us a great opportunity to learn more about the research carried out at SHIFT and to strengthen our collaboration in a very friendly and open atmosphere.
The trip was also a valuable chance to exchange biological material and field experience. We brought samples from our Calliphora vicina breeding in Prague, while our colleagues shared flies from Parma, Italy. Together, we also tried to collect adult flies of this species in the Lausanne area, although this time without success. Alongside the scientific programme, we were able to enjoy the charming city of Lausanne, which added another memorable dimension to the visit. We are very grateful to our hosts for their hospitality, their time, and the inspiring discussions we shared.
