On 2 December in Sion, about 600 visitors braved the first snow to explore the complex beauty of the cryosphere and the polar regions through various engaging activities including an exhibition of circumpolar art, an interactive science area, a polar explorer treasure hunt and live conferences from Antarctica. The festival […]

The Polar Access Fund should enable young researchers to undertake a (first) field trip to a polar region or a remote high-altitude area. The research conducted during the field trip must be inserted into an existing overarching project (e.g. to enlarge its scope or for comparisons) and be related to the issue […]

PRESS RELEASE – On 9 November 2023 in Paris, the Swiss Polar Institute (SPI) and the French Polar Institute (IPEV) formalised their collaboration in polar and high-altitude science. The MoU opens a new chapter in this long-term partnership between France and Switzerland, two neighbouring countries that share not only a […]

From 23 to 25 October 2023, Swiss Polar Institute’s Executive Director Danièle Rod met with various actors of the Czech polar research programmes. The official visit was organised by the Embassy of Switzerland in the Czech Republic and initiated fruitful exchanges on polar and high-altitude science between the two countries. […]

Named after the Swiss Arctic researcher Alfred de Quervain (1879-1927), this prize honours young scientists for outstanding MA, PhD or Postdoc works. The Swiss Committee on Polar and High Altitude Research awards the prize together with the Swiss Commission of the High Altitude Research Station Jungfraujoch and the Swiss Foundation […]

PolARTS is a joint initiative by the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia and the Swiss Polar Institute (SPI) to encourage exchange and to foster collaboration between arts and science. The PolARTS initiative opens a space for new collaborative and explorative practices and supports the processes of transdisciplinary cooperation. This call […]

Aiming to maximise the sustainability of its activities and take steps towards reducing the carbon footprint of polar and high-altitude science, the Swiss Polar Institute (SPI) launches a survey to gather the views of the Swiss polar and high-altitude research community. Polar and high-altitude regions are extremely fascinating environments, yet […]

The Swiss Polar Institute has an opening for a 9-months internship (80%-100%) in Sion, starting on 1 November 2023. It aims to offer a “behind-the-scenes” view of a science organisation and the management of science programmes. Aims of the internship Tasks Your profile What we offer How to apply Should […]

In recognition of the mutual benefit to be gained through bilateral cooperative and collaborative efforts for their investigations in the polar regions, a Memorandum of Understanding between The Swiss Polar Institute (SPI) and the German Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz Zentrum für Polar and Meeresforschung (AWI) was signed in late 2022. For a more […]