Mountain Research Initiative

29/05/2026

🌍🏔️ The May edition of the MRI Newsletter is now available!

This month, we explore how collaboration across disciplines, regions, and scales is helping address some of the most pressing challenges facing mountain regions worldwide. Highlights include:

🔹 MRI Working Groups advancing research on climate change, governance, social-ecological systems, and mountain observatories
🔹 Mountain adaptation and governance discussions at the Mountains Connect Workshop in Bhutan
🔹 MRI-supported sessions at EGU 2026 in Vienna
🔹 New GEO Mountains-supported research from Peru examining the links between glacier retreat, water quality, and human health
🔹 New findings showing that a major wildfire in Africa's Rwenzori Mountains was unprecedented in at least 12,000 years

Plus funding opportunities, events, publications, and news from across the global mountain research community.

📬 Read the newsletter here: https://bit.ly/MRINewsletterMay26

27/05/2026

🏔️🌍 Great to see these important conversations taking place at the Group on Earth Observations Symposium this week!

Mountain regions remain underrepresented in many global Earth Observation datasets, despite their critical importance for water, biodiversity, food security, and climate resilience.

Congratulations to GEO Mountains, WOCAT - World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies, and partners for convening such an engaging discussion on addressing data gaps, strengthening capacity development, and advancing land restoration in mountain regions.

👏 Thanks to all speakers and participants contributing to this important exchange.

27/05/2026

🌎🤝 New funding opportunity for research collaboration between Switzerland and Latin America!

The Swiss Leading House Latin America Consolidation Grant 2026 supports collaborative research projects with a focus on:
• Sustainability & resilience
• Capacity building
• Societal impact
• Long-term international partnerships

The grant is open to researchers from all disciplines and encourages projects that involve local communities and support young researchers.

📅 Applications open until 31 July 2026
💻 Online info session: 9 June 2026
🔗 Find out more: https://mountainresearchinitiative.org/funding-opportunities/swiss-leading-house-latin-america-consolidation-grant-2026/

📸 Photo by Hector Marquez.

26/05/2026

📣 We’re hiring at the Mountain Research Initiative (MRI)! 🏔️🌍

We’re looking for a Scientific Project Officer (0.6 FTE) to support the MRI’s global mountain research coordination and GEO Mountains activities.

✨ This role is ideal for a dynamic 'all-rounder' with experience in project coordination, scientific events, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

📍 Bern, Switzerland
🕒 Temporary 6-month fixed-term contract
📅 Application deadline: 5 June 2026
🔗 More information & apply: https://mountainresearchinitiative.org/jobs/mri-scientific-project-officer-0-6-fte/

If you’re passionate about working at the intersection of science, policy, and collaboration – and supporting a global mountain research network – we’d love to hear from you!

Please share within your networks. 🙏

📸 Image by Fabian Schneider.

26/05/2026

📅¿Ya apartaste la fecha?

El Diálogo Regional 2 de CONDESAN se acerca: jueves 4 de junio, 8:30 a.m. (GMT-5).

Vamos a conversar sobre gobernanza y participación en los pastizales de montaña. ¿De quién es la puna, el páramo o la estepa? ¿Cómo se toman decisiones sobre el pastoreo, el agua y el territorio?

Tendremos una agenda con voces de los Andes y de los Himalayas. Pronto compartiremos los nombres de los panelistas y el programa detallado.

🎥 Entrada libre y gratuita – sin inscripción
📢 Guarda la fecha, comparte y prepara tus preguntas.

¡Te esperamos!



Adaptation at Altitude
Swiss Development & Cooperation

22/05/2026

🏔️🧊 Applications are now open for the IPROMO Central Asia Summer School on sustainable mountain development and glacier preservation.

Hosted in Kyrgyzstan, the course will explore the critical links between:
💧 Water security
🧊 Glacier and cryosphere change
🌾 Food systems & livelihoods
🤝 Climate diplomacy & regional cooperation

Designed for young and mid-level professionals working on mountain and cryosphere issues in Central Asia, the programme combines scientific, policy, and community-based approaches through lectures, field trips, and collaborative project work.

📍 Naryn, Kyrgyzstan
🗓️ 23 June-7 July 2026
📅 Applications now open
🔗 Learn more & apply: https://buff.ly/FXkkpdF

21/05/2026

🏔️🌍 MRI-supported mountain sessions brought together researchers from across disciplines at the European Geosciences Union - EGU General Assembly 2026 in Vienna!

✨ Discussions explored:
• Elevation-Dependent Climate Change ❄️
• Mountain weather and climate processes 🌦️
• Social–ecological systems and adaptation 🤝
• Water security, hazards, and monitoring 💧

The sessions highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration for understanding rapid environmental change in mountain regions.

📊 Researchers also presented exciting new work on:
• Avalanche susceptibility mapping in the Himalaya
• Open-source hydrological monitoring sensors
• Freshwater ecosystem governance
• Climate-resilient groundwater and soil management

📖 Read more about MRI activities at EGU26: https://mountainresearchinitiative.org/news/mri-supported-mountain-sessions-highlight-elevation-dependent-climate-change-and-social-ecological-research-at-egu26-in-vienna/

21/05/2026

🛰️🌄 The MRI is pleased to support the upcoming GEO Mountains General Meeting on 29 May 2026 in Geneva and online.

This meeting offers a great opportunity for the mountain research and Earth observation community to reconnect, exchange updates, and discuss future collaboration opportunities.

📍 WMO Headquarters, Geneva + online
🗓️ 29 May 2026 | 09:00–12:00 CEST
🔗 Learn more & register: https://geomountains.org/events/geo-mountains-general-meeting-1-may-2026/

🏔️🌍 Join us next week for the GEO Mountains General Meeting!

We warmly invite GEO Mountains members, partners, and all interested in mountain Earth observation and global change research to join us on 29 May 2026 in Geneva (or online) for a morning of exchange, collaboration, and community updates.

✨ Highlights include:
• Updates on GEO Mountains activities & future plans
• WMO Global Cryosphere Watch updates ❄️
• GEO Youth Engagements 🌱
• Community presentations on glacier mass balance, adaptation, and conservation tools
• Joint discussion & knowledge exchange 🤝

📍 WMO Headquarters, Geneva + online
🗓️ Friday, 29 May 2026
🕘 09:00–12:00 CEST

The meeting follows directly after the GEO Symposium (26–28 May), and participants are encouraged to attend both events.

🔗 Agenda & registration: https://geomountains.org/events/geo-mountains-general-meeting-1-may-2026/

We look forward to connecting with you in Geneva!

20/05/2026

🧊🌏 An insightful GlacierHub piece on Indonesia’s last tropical glaciers near Puncak Jaya.

These glaciers have lost 97% of their ice over the past 44 years and may disappear by 2030 – or even sooner with future El Niño conditions. Their loss is not only environmental, but also deeply cultural for Indigenous Papuan communities.

Scientists estimate that Indonesia will lose its two remaining glaciers by 2030—a warning for glaciers around the world.

20/05/2026

🌎⛰️ Do you want to learn more about climate modelling across the Andes?

Applications are now open for the CASCADA Workshop (Convection-permitting Atmospheric Science and Climate Modeling Across the Andes), taking place at NSF NCAR in Boulder, Colorado.

The workshop will provide hands-on training in km-scale climate modelling over South America, including:
💧 Hydrosphere & cryosphere applications
⛈️ Convective storm processes
🌱 Land-surface interactions
🤝 Tutorials, tools & collaborative activities

Open to senior undergraduate, MSc, PhD students, and early-career researchers.

📍 Boulder, Colorado, USA
🗓️ 5-9 October 2026
📅 Apply by 15 June 2026
🔗 More here: https://mountainresearchinitiative.org/events/andes-climate-modeling-workshop/

19/05/2026

🏔️📸 An excellent opportunity for anyone working on or documenting mountain pastoralism and extensive livestock systems in Europe! 👇

The European Mountain Convention 2026 is inviting submissions of posters and professional photographs showcasing innovative practices and experiences from mountain regions 🌄

Researchers, NGOs, local authorities, photographers, and practitioners are all encouraged to contribute.

📅 Submission deadline: 4 June 2026
🔗 Submit here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfdxC19XdEZkR8zy4-q6Wh6UfX1GJYSFvPNFHE5G9aq85yIAA/viewform

📰𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲!

As part of the Convention exhibition area, 20 selected posters and professional photographs will showcase innovative practices and successful experiences from across Europe, helping to make knowledge on extensive in mountain areas accessible and engaging for all participants 🏔️

We invite researchers, local and regional authorities, NGOs, photographers...to submit their contributions🌄

Practical information
- Posters must be in English or French
- Accepted formats: from A2 to A0
- Both vertical and horizontal layouts are accepted
- A maximum of 20 exhibition spots are available
- Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis

🗓️ Deadline: 4 June 2026
👉 Submit your poster or photo(s): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfdxC19XdEZkR8zy4-q6Wh6UfX1GJYSFvPNFHE5G9aq85yIAA/viewform
🔗 Check the guidelines for presenters on the Convention website: www.mountainconvention.eu