The 29th International Polar Conference brought leading polar and high mountain researchers and young scientists to Rauris, an Alpine community in the province of Salzburg, for a week of intense discussion and knowledge exchange. The picturesque village lies in the shadow of the Hohe Sonnblick, whose scientific observatory is of iconic importance, and, surrounded by snow-covered mountain peaks, provided a perfect scenery for discussions on current topics in polar and high mountain research. This year’s Polar Conference was jointly organised by the Austrian Polar Research Institute (APRI) and the German Society for Polar Research (DGP). In addition to scientific lectures and poster presentations, the programme included public events and workshops.
The conference participants in the Mesnerhaus (C. Ruhsam).
Scientific Talks in the Mesnerhaus (C. Rauris).
The Mesnerhaus in Rauris (C. Ruhsam).
Early Career Scientists Workshop and the Opening Ceremony
An interactive workshop for Early Career Scientists (ECS), organised by APECS Germany and the APRI ECS network, took place on the eve of the conference opening. The topic of the workshop was ‘How do I get my first or next job in polar research?’, and experienced polar scientists Birgit Sattler and Gerlis Fugmann were invited to share their expertise with numerous ECS. Topics such as the requirements for applications for PhD or PostDoc positions, the most important skills for starting a career and how to realise suitable research projects were discussed. Afterwards, the participants were able to continue their discussions over dinner in a relaxed atmosphere.
The conference officially kicked off on Monday with an opening ceremony in the hall of the historic Mesnerhaus, where the prestigious Karl Weyprecht Medal was awarded. This year, the medal was awarded to Heinrich Miller and Cornelia Lüdecke, who have both made outstanding contributions to polar research. Miller, former deputy director of the Alfred Wegener Institute, is known for his work in glaciology, while Lüdecke is widely recognised as an expert in the history of polar research.
Gerlis Fugmann at the ECS workshop in Rauris (J. Strobel).
ECS-Workshop (J. Strobel).
ECS networking in the evening (E. Peter).
Interdisciplinary discussions and an art exhibition
After the opening, the first scientific lectures began, which were characterised by a high degree of interdisciplinarity. The topics ranged from polar climate dynamics and glacier evolution to anthropological studies of societies in high latitudes. The exchange between the natural and social sciences, which is essential for a holistic understanding of the polar regions, was particularly valuable. Poster presentations took place in the afternoon, during which the participants exchanged ideas and discussed various current research projects.
Another highlight of the first day of the conference took place in the evening: the art exhibition was opened, merging the unique beauty of polar landscapes with science. The exhibition was open to the public throughout the week and offered visitors the opportunity to experience polar regions through the lens of both science and art.
The art exhibition in the vault of the Mesnerhaus (C. Ruhsam).
Exhibits of the art exhibition (C. Ruhsam).
A gym becomes an auditorium
The week’s programme was filled with further talks and specialist side meetings. After extensive scientific presentations, there was the opportunity for cosy get-togethers and informal discussions in the evenings, for example at the conference dinner.
Another highlight of the conference was the public evening lecture by Klemens Weisleitner, which took place in the transformed gym hall of the local school. In his lecture, he showed impressive pictures and videos, for example from his last Antarctic expedition to Lake Untersee, and shared with an interested audience why studying the polar regions is of great importance for society as a whole. Weisleitner not only described the challenges of research under extreme conditions, but also impressively conveyed the fascination of exploring the polar regions. The lecture was well attended and attracted both conference participants and lots of interested citizens from the region.
Public evening lecture by Klemens Weisleitner in the school gym (C. Ruhsam).
Klemens Weisleitner in front of an interested audience at the public evening lecture (C. Ruhsam).
An eventful week comes to an end
The conference concluded on Friday with scientific excursions into the surrounding mountain landscape of Rauris. Among other things, high mountain landscapes not far from the conference venue at the Hoher Sonnblick could be explored and even glacial processes could be discussed during a visit of the Pasterze, Austria’s largest glacier.
The 29th International Polar Conference in Rauris proved to be a suitable platform for the exchange of ideas on a variety of topics from polar and high mountain research, above all due to its versatility. The thematic diversity of the scientific contributions, which combined both natural and social science perspectives, proved to be valuable. The event also benefited from a mixed age structure, with ECS also actively participating in the workshop and discussions. Last but not least, the variety of formats of the conference helped to create a stimulating exchange, with the public evening lecture and the art exhibition promoting dialogue with the local population and making polar research an accessible experience for everyone.
The Hohe Sonnblick on the excursion (C. Ruhsam).
The closing ceremony of the conference (C. Ruhsam).
Group photo of the conference participants in Rauris (C. Ruhsam).
Media information
Written by Jonathan Fipper
Layout by the APRI-Media Team.
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Fotos: © Christoph Ruhsam
