On Wednesday 5 March 2025 in Bern, in collaboration with the Delegation of the European Union to Switzerland and Liechtenstein and the University of Bern, the Swiss Polar Institute had the pleasure to present the European-funded project Beyond EPICA: Oldest Ice, a long-term study of ice cores from the heart of Antarctica’s ice sheet to uncover Earth’s past climate.
The fourth Antarctic campaign achieved a historic milestone for climate science this year. An international team of scientists with participation of the University of Bern successfully drilled a 2,800-meter-long and over 1.2 million years old ice core, reaching the bedrock beneath the Antarctic ice sheet. Antarctica is a critical site for understanding the intricate dynamics of our planet’s climate, past, present and future. The Beyond EPICA: The Oldest Ice project is an example that long-term collaborative efforts and shared expertise are paramount for evidence-based decision-making and highlights the crucial roles of science and diplomacy.
Moderated by Danièle Rod (Swiss Polar Institute), the event gathered distinguished speakers Prof. Frédéric Herman (Chair of the Swiss Polar Institute Foundation Board and Rector of the University of Lausanne), State Secretary Martina Hirayama (State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI), EU Ambassador to Switzerland Petros Mavromichalis as well as experts involved in the Beyond EPICA project, Prof. Carlo Barbante (Università Ca’ Foscari, Venice), Prof. Hubertus Fischer and Prof. Thomas Stocker (University of Bern). They all underscored the vital importance of international cooperation in Antarctica and climate research. The overwintering crew at the French-Italian research station Concordia joined the event and offered a glimpse into the daily life at the station, followed by a discussion with the audience that gathered representatives from the Swiss Confederation, the Ambassador of France Marion Paradas, the Ambassador of Italy to Switzerland and diplomats from various countries.
We thank the speakers, the Concordia team, and all the participants for their contributions, presence and support in making this event a moment of celebration of a fruitful collaboration beyond borders.
© 2025 Swiss Polar Institute
© 2025 Swiss Polar Institute
© 2025 Swiss Polar Institute
Further reading
- University of Bern, Press release on the fourth Antarctic campaign of the Beyond EPICA: Oldest Ice (09.01.2025)
- Luzerner Zeitung, Ein Blick in die Antarktis by Michael Töngi (08.03.2025)
Header photo collage: © Thomas Stocker / Carlo Barbante / PNR-IPEV, all rights reserved