Stefan Ansermet
His career path is somewhat unusual, as he trained as a photojournalist, and it was his passion for minerals that led him to this profession. At the age of 15, he began searching for and collecting them, later donating them to museums. Over time, he gained the professional experience and knowledge that allowed him to join the Naturéum’s scientific team, particularly for field research. His most remarkable discovery came from Graubünden—a specimen that is currently one of a kind—which an international commission named in his honor: ansermétite.
After his fieldwork (minerals can be found by the side of a road or at altitudes over 4,000 meters!), he brings back samples, cleans them, and begins the lengthy process of observing them under a binocular microscope to select which specimens to analyze with X-rays. All of this helps document the new additions to the collection. Then he puts on his photographer’s hat again, taking macro photos of minerals. It’s meticulous work that aims to capture both the beauty and the morphology of the crystal as faithfully as possible.
In addition to these activities, he has enjoyed writing two art books whose purpose is zygomatic, absurd, and critical: xyloglossaries.