Science conducted in and around polar and high-altitude regions is critical to understanding the evolution of the Earth’s climate.
Due to the complex logistics, challenging access and difficult safety conditions in these extreme environments, the Swiss polar community requires specific competencies and dedicated support.
The Swiss Polar Institute (SPI) offers tailored support to scientists based in Switzerland who work in polar regions and remote high-altitude environments.

NEWS

Accross Greenland’s Ice Cap – Alfred de Quervain’s memoirs now available in English

Switzerland has a longstanding scientific history in polar regions. The pioneers behind this history and their achievements are often largely unknown outside of the country. The memoirs of one of Switzerland’s greatest explorers and early polar scientist, Alfred de Quervain, are now available in Shakespeare’s language. “Across Greenland’s Ice Cap, […]

Leister Southeast Greenland Expedition 2023 - Call for applications

Call for applications – Leister Southeast Greenland Expedition 2023

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Call for applications – Leister Southeast Greenland Expedition 2023

In early August 2023, the Leister Foundation is planning a 14 days ship-based expedition along the coast of South and Southeast Greenland, from Narsarsuaq to Ittoqqortormiit, with purpose of facilitating sampling where it is otherwise difficult and with space for up to eight scientists. The foundation opens a call for […]

Swiss Polar Day 2022 – A renewed event for polar collaborations

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Swiss Polar Day 2022 – A renewed event for polar collaborations

The Swiss Polar Day 2022, the annual conference for the Swiss polar and high-altitude research community, will take place on Friday 2 September in Bern. We cordially invite you to participate in this full-day event to enlarge your scientific horizon with talks by international and Swiss experts, get an overview […]

20220518_Launch_Flagship_Initiatives (2)

SPI Flagship Initiatives Launch Event

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SPI Flagship Initiatives Launch Event

We are delighted to announce that on 18 May 2022, the two SPI Flagship Initiatives PAMIR and GreenFjord were officially launched in Bern. At this occasion, the concept and vision of the two SPI Flagship Initiatives and their scientific programme were presented to an audience of 45 participants and 89 […]

New format of the SPI newsletters

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New format of the SPI newsletters

The SPI introduces you to the new format of its newsletters designed to better embed its visual identity and ensure that you will enjoy them even more. The newsletter from April 2022 is the first one with this new update! We recommend that you check your spam box to ensure […]

Who does what in European polar research

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Who does what in European polar research

European polar institutions grouped in the EU-PolarNet2 consortium have published two new documents to help improve the coordination and cooperation of national polar funding organisations in Europe. The “Catalogue of National Polar Programmes and Other Large-scale programmes” The “Directory of European Polar Research Funding Programme” The catalogue provides an overview […]

Swiss Polar Day 2022

The registration for the Swiss Polar Day 2022 is open. This annual conference represents an opportunity to network with colleagues and learn about the current Swiss-led projects. It will take place in Bern on 2 September.

For more details and the preliminary programme, visit the event webpage.