As part of our art and science collaboration in the context of the PolARTS programme from Swiss Polar Institute and Pro Helvetia, we (Pauline Agustoni and David Janssen) had the chance to travel to Southern Greenland for a three-week field trip from 24 June until 15 July 2025. For a […]
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During their last field campaign in Tajikistan at the end of September 2025, the SPI Flagship Initiative PAMIR succeeded in securing two ice cores over 100 metres long from the Kon Chukurbashi Ice Cap. The coring expedition was conducted at an extraction site located at an altitude of 5,800 metres. […]
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Following the international workshop on glacier-related hazards and community safety held on 2 October 2025 in the Bhutanese capital Thimphu, Swiss Polar Institute (SPI) and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) signed an MoU to federate forces in addressing cryosphere-related hazards. The signing took place in the presence […]
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From 30 September to 2 October 2025, the “Cryosphere and People at Risk in Bhutan and the Hindu-Kush Himalaya Workshop” took place in the Bhutanese capital Thimphu. Organised by the National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM), the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (MoENR), the Royal Government of Bhutan […]
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The Climate and Environmental History Research Cluster of the PAMIR research programme has launched their field campaign on the Kon Chukurbashi Ice Cap in the Pamir Mountains (Tajikistan) with the aim to extract two deep ice cores. One ice core will be used for research purposes and the second will be preserved for future generations thanks to Ice Memory Foundation.
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Girls* on Ice Switzerland tuition-free programme for youth aged 15 to 17 offers inclusive scientific and artistic outdoor activities promoting gender equality and diversity in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Mathematics (STEAM) education and field sciences. In July and August 2025, their two expeditions, one in German and one in […]
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PolARTS is a joint initiative by Pro Helvetia and the Swiss Polar Institute (SPI) aimed at encouraging exchange and fostering collaboration between arts and polar science. PolARTS supports up to three tandems, each composed of one polar scientist and one artist from Switzerland, over a period of 12 to 18 months. These […]
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Lakes are complex ecosystems that host diverse microbial communities, with aerosols, water, and sediments each serving as distinct habitats supporting unique bacterial populations. These habitats offer valuable perspectives on microbial dynamics across spatial and temporal scales. Bacteria are the most abundant life forms in cold lakes, where they play vital roles such as degrading organic matter and contributing to primary production, making them fundamental to the structure and functioning of the trophic chain. Arctic lakes are highly dynamic systems subjected to extreme environmental conditions – including prolonged ice cover for much of the year, intense winds, and heavy snowfall.
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The Mertz Fellowship – a partnership between the Embassy of Switzerland in Australia, Swissnex, Swiss Polar Institute, and the Antarctic Science Foundation – supports joint projects and scientific networking between Swiss and Australian higher education and research institutions. The programme focuses on early-career researchers and fosters cutting-edge research while strengthening […]
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