PRESS RELEASE – Sion / Brest / Québec City, 6 August 2026 – Today, the CASCADES Expedition leaves Québec City to board the Canadian research icebreaker CCGS Amundsen for its first leg in Baffin Bay and along the west coast of Greenland. The international expedition federates over 50 researchers from […]
Read MoreNews
Mertz Fellowship 2026 – the call is now open
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. This programme for early-career researchers focuses on fostering cutting-edge research and strengthening […]
Read MoreARKTIS Project sets sail aboard the Tara Polar Station
Tara Polar Station departed Lorient, France, for the Arctic on 19 July. Bringing together more than 30 research institutes from 12 countries, the expedition will support a broad range of international scientific programmes, including the Swiss-led ARKTIS project. After a few technical stops, last one being in Kirkenes, Norway, Tara […]
Read MorePolARTS: Selected tandems 2026
PolARTS offers artists from Switzerland in any discipline supported by Pro Helvetia and scientists the opportunity to collaborate on joint projects and to take part in field trips to a polar region. Launched in 2022, the programme runs on a biennial basis, creating space for new collaborative and explorative practices […]
Read MoreSPI joins UArctic
On 29 May 2026, the University of the Arctic (UArctic) Assembly welcomed the Swiss Polar Institute as a new member. The Assembly approved 28 new members, representing both Arctic and non-Arctic regions, bringing UArctic total membership to 226. We are pleased to be a part of this growing network of […]
Read MoreSwiss Polar Institute: 10 Years! Open Call for Memories & Anniversary Messages
Since SPI’s inception in 2016, a community of scientists, partners, artists and audiences has grown, shaped by shared fieldwork, projects, events, networks and, ultimately, memories. To mark SPI’s 10th Anniversary, we are launching an Open Call for Memories.
We invite you to share your cherished memories of SPI to by 31 August 2026 to contribute to a collective retrospective of the past decade.
Fondation Lombard Odier and the Swiss Polar Institute join forces to help improve natural hazard mitigation in the Swiss Alps
MEDIA RELEASE – Bellevue / Sion, 13 May 2026 – Following the tragic partial collapse of the Birch Glacier on the Valais village of Blatten in May 2025, Fondation Lombard Odier and the Swiss Polar Institute joined forces, engaging in a multi-year collaboration with the new “IceTools Initiative”. The project’s […]
Read MoreA year in review – 2025 Annual Report
The Swiss Polar Institute is pleased to announce the release of its 2025 Annual Report in a newly revised format highlighting SPI’s achievements, financial overview, and strategic contributions to Swiss polar and high-altitude science over the past year. Readers can explore key initiatives, funded projects, services and events as well […]
Read MoreOnline workshop for New Zealand and Swiss researchers
New Zealand and Swiss researchers came together at an online workshop on 23 April to explore opportunities for collaboration in Antarctic, polar and high-altitude research. The workshop followed the signing of a joint Memorandum of Agreement between Antarctica New Zealand and the Swiss Polar Institute in 2025 and brought together […]
Read More