ALPS Foundation

The ALPS Foundation (Awareness Lectures on Psychedelics in Switzerland) is a non-profit organization founded in 2021 to promote education and research on psychedelic substances. ALPS was started by a group of students from the universities of Lausanne and Geneva who were passionate about psychedelic science and wanted to raise awareness about these substances beyond the university campus.

The origins of ALPS trace back to 2019 when the first psychedelic research student association in Switzerland, PALA (Psychedelic Association of Lausanne for Awareness), was established at the University of Lausanne. PALA brought together motivated psychedelic science students who created an independent educational non-profit to share evidence-based information about psychedelics with professionals and the broader public. Inspired by MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) in Canada, the PALA students envisioned academic conferences to advance the psychedelic research debate.

In October 2021, ALPS held its inaugural conference, bringing together psychedelic experts and researchers from various fields. The first conference was a success, demonstrating strong interest and institutional support. On the back of this achievement, the ALPS Foundation was officially established in February 2022 to provide more structure and continuity for the project.

The second annual ALPS Conference occurred in Bern in October 2022, cementing it as a critical Swiss psychedelic research event. The conference attracted renowned international researchers and helped consolidate ALPS’ reputation.

ALPS is run by a dedicated interdisciplinary team of students and volunteers passionate about the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. They aim to educate professionals and the public, provide a platform to connect researchers and clinicians, and ultimately support the safe, legal and accessible use of psychedelics for mental health. The ALPS Foundation represents the crystallization of a shared vision to integrate psychedelic research into the mainstream.