On March 23, 2026, Sophie Bucher was awarded the Academic Society of Valais (SAV) Prize for Outstanding Master’s Theses for her thesis The Virtue Ethics of Shrub Encroachment on Cultural Landscapes: Extensive Subalpine Grasslands in the Valais, Switzerland as a Case Study of Good Environmental Stewardship. The award is given to students who either have a personal connection to Valais or who have focused on Valais in their master’s thesis.

Sophie Bucher had already received the Environmental Research Prize of Fribourg University in 2024 for her master’s thesis, which she wrote as part of the “Environmental Science and Humanities” master’s program.

We extend our warmest congratulations to Sophie on receiving this award!