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Making Connections for Our Changing Mountains
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Here we are at the end of October. In Switzerland, the days are getting shorter, the leaves are changing, and snow is dusting the mountains. Transitional times like this often create space to reflect on nature’s resilience, value, and renewal. We saw a connection to this in some of the latest research outputs and activities from the MRI community.
Earlier this month our Mountain Resilience Working Group published a new paper that identified “bridges” between resilience origins, data methods, mountain research, and co-design with local communities. This comprehensive overview of the scientific literature will serve as a great basis for future mountain resilience research.
The IPBES also released a new assessment report that found more than 50 methods and approaches exist to make the diverse values of nature visible. As MRI SLC member and chapter lead author Ignacio Palomo explained, "achieving a just and sustainable future requires decision-making to integrate this diversity of values of nature and of nature's contributions to people."
A new focus issue of Mountain Research and Development (MRD) co-guest edited by MRI SLC member Irasema Alcantara-Ayala, illuminates the dynamic and complex interconnections between hazards, underlying vulnerabilities, integrated disaster risk management, and resulting impacts in mountains.
We also were pleased to moderate a webinar session on water security hosted by the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI).
On Monday, GEO Mountains will be co-hosting a hybrid side event on mountains and polar regions at GEO Week where we reflect on our ongoing work and experiences in relation to “Essential Mountain Variables” with our colleagues doing similar work in the Arctic.
The topics addressed in these research achievements and activities clearly indicate how we can move forward, especially looking ahead to next month’s United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27). As the world grapples with climate change and the ever-mounting pressure on all kinds of systems, especially in mountains, there is a clear call for adaptation, loss and damage mitigation, and climate justice - all of which will be key priorities at COP27. As we discuss in a new CDE Spotlight, we look forward to participating in genuine, active dialogue between science and policy, one which is gaining much-needed momentum, and one we hope continues to sustain for a brighter future in mountains and in all nature.
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Enjoy the read,
The MRI Coordination Office
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A new paper by our MRI Mountain Resilience Working Group provides a comprehensive overview of the scientific literature in English on resilience-related topics in mountain areas. This is the first time a review of this kind has been done specifically in relation to mountains. Find out more about the working group and what motivated them to do the study.
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The 27th edition of the UN Climate Change Conference will take place from 6-18 November 2022. MRI Executive Director Dr Carolina Adler, CDE scientist, and one of the lead authors of the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report will be present in Sharm el-Sheikh. She points out the importance of the conference for mountain regions and says: “I hope that the momentum isn’t lost!” Read the interview.
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The IPBES released a new major scientific report, the Assessment Report on the Diverse Values and Valuation of Nature (Values Assessment) which finds that there is a dominant global focus on short-term profits and economic growth, often excluding the consideration of multiple values of nature in policy decisions.
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The articles in "Addressing Challenges of Hazards, Risks, and Disaster Management in Mountain Regions" present insights from the Himalayas, the Andes, Iceland, Japan, and the volcanic island of Saint Vincent. Through a range of approaches, concepts, and case studies, they chart ways of reducing disaster risk and fostering partnerships among the great variety of stakeholders involved.
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UNIL-CIRM, the MRI, UNIGE-ISE, and Labex ITTEM will hold a symposium on global change and sustainability issues in mountain areas, especially in view of the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development. We look forward to productive discussion and sharing the outcomes of this symposium.
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With new mountain events added regularly, don't forget to check out our online calendar.
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GEO Mountains News & Events
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The update includes a significant number of additional mountain observatories, operational stations, and sites where long-term monitoring is being undertaken but where there may be little physical infrastructure (e.g. GLORIA sites). The inventory can be viewed as an interactive web map, with the corresponding dataset also available for download. Check it out and contribute your sites!
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On 13 October 2022, Dr James Thornton gave an online presentation on behalf of GEO Mountains as part of the course/webinar series "Analysis of vegetation dynamics data in the Andes in the current scenario of global change.” The course was coordinated by CONDESAN, and supported by GEO Mountains. Learn more about the course, watch the talks, or explore the presentations/papers.
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GEO Mountains gave two presentations at this year’s GCOS Climate Observation Conference, 17-19 October 2022. Both talks were given by Dr James Thornton, GEO Mountains Scientific Project Officer. The latter talk "Toward a definition of Essential Mountain Climate Variables" especially stimulated discussions with other communities who are also seeking to “tailor” the general (global) Essential Climate Variables framework to meet their specific needs.
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We invite all GEO Mountains members, participants, and other interested parties to attend our "end of year" GEO Mountains General Meeting on 28 November. Agenda items will include updates from the Secretariat, feedback on the proposed GEO Mountains Implementation Plan 2023-2025, updates from participants, and general discussion. Please join us!
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31 October 2022 | 14:00-15:30 GMT/UTC | Accra, Ghana and Online
The aim of this hybrid side event at GEO Week is to provide a platform for activities of the GEO Work Programme working on polar regions and mountains to exchange and investigate possible synergies. GEO Mountains will also release a new policy brief on mountain observations as a contribution to the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development 2022. We hope to see you there!
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Further GEO Mountains news and relevant events can be found on the GEO Mountains website.
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Conéctate A+ News & Events
Cluster of Cooperation in the Tropical Andes and Central America Region
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This new Conéctate A+ review focuses on identifying the scientific evidence on the management of terrestrial ecosystems by women in the Andean region and the most important knowledge gaps. Read the report, available in English and Español.
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We enjoyed making connections during this online “meet and greet” side event with Conéctate A+ members and the IAI CEH Transdisciplinary Training Initiative teams. Important message for CLOC members - the key to 2023 funding is eligibility. Partnering with the IAI TD teams is an excellent opportunity to ensure this eligibility. View the recording and don't miss your chance to start collaborating.
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The Cluster of Collaboration (CLOC) Conéctate A+ has launched two funding calls to encourage the research community to address pressing knowledge needs in science, policy, practice, and society. The calls focus on the areas of climate change, ecosystems, and health in the Tropical Andes and Central America region within the framework of sustainable development. Extended submission deadline: 31 October 2022.
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The World Network Mountain Biosphere Reserves (WNMBR) launched a new website, advancing its effort to unite mountain communities to conserve biodiversity, generate knowledge, and promote sustainable development. The MRI is proud to continue collaborating with UNESCO MAB and with the technical secretariats of the WBMBRs to connect with and support the research needs of this network. Check out WNMBR's new website and sign up to get the first newsletter due out mid-November!
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Outcomes of the Sixth Global Meeting of the Mountain Partnership
Delegates from 97 mountain countries around the world endorsed the Aspen Declaration at the Sixth Global Meeting of the Mountain Partnership. The MRI welcomes the endorsement by Mountain Partnership members for our proposal to set up an Independent Advisory Body within the Mountain Partnership, as a process and platform that we believe will strengthen the engagement of and contributions from Mountain Partnership members in science-policy and multi-stakeholder dialogues, as stipulated in the Aspen Declaration.
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The Jury of the Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity led by Dr. Angela Merkel, selected the IPCC and IPBES out of 116 nominations from 41 countries, in recognition of “…the role of science on the front line of tackling climate change and the loss of biodiversity.” Read the story.
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This list, updated each week, contains articles relevant to mountain research that you won't want to miss this month.
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The 12th ESEH Conference in 2023, organised by the University of Bern in Switzerland, is titled "Mountains and Plains: Past, present and future environmental and climatic entanglements." This paramount topic enables numerous approaches from across disciplines. Last call for papers due 31 October 2022.
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ICAM 2023
19-23 June 2023 | St. Gallen, Switzerland and Online
Join the 36th International Conference on Alpine Meteorology. Papers are invited on all aspects of mountain weather and climate. Oral sessions will be held as a hybrid event from 19 to 23 June 2023. The fully online Poster Session will take place on 27 June 2023. Abstract Submission Deadline: 16 December 2022.
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The conference aims to present the main findings from the "Alpine Towns" report and discuss implementation in practice. It will take place online and will be interpreted in German, French, Italian, Slovenian, and English. The event is aimed at a broad audience from the international to the local stage and is divided into five thematic blocks that you can join individually. Register to join the conference.
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The third Caucasus Mountain Forum “Transdisciplinarity for Sustainable Tourism Development: Role of Caucasus Scientists” will be devoted to tourism development perspectives and challenges in the region. CMF3 will offer a combination of plenary sessions open to the public, research sessions, workshops, and poster sessions. Abstracts are due by 15 January 2023.
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Join this interdisciplinary workshop focusing on the preservation of alpine open spaces, co-organized by the Swiss Alpine Club, MountainWilderness, and the University of Basel. The workshop will be held in German. Register by 14 November 2022.
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Have an idea for a blog post or mountain news to share?
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The MRI encourages open science practices and the accessible dissemination of results of high-quality scientific research. The choices made as to where and how this research is published are also key aspects that need attention and careful consideration by the mountain research community. The MRI strongly recommends that researchers exercise their own responsibility and judgment and carefully consider where they choose to publish their work, and where they agree to guest edit special issues, by consulting trusted sources of information and learning more about predatory publishing practices.
We encourage you to read our full recommendation note on predatory journals and explore the list useful resources on our website here.
Do you have any questions, comments, or suggestions regarding the issue of predatory publishing practices? We’d love to hear from you! Please contact us at the MRI Coordination Office: mri@mountainresearchinitiative.org.
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MRD: Restoring Mountain Systems for Social–Ecological Resilience
This Mountain Research and Development (MRD) focus issue will contribute to a better understanding of restoration in mountains by including critical reviews of concepts and approaches that address conditions, practices, challenges, and opportunities for integrated recovery and restoration of mountain landscapes, biodiversity, livelihoods, and cultures.
Full paper submission deadline: 1 November 2022
Frontiers in Forests and Global Change: Impacts of Global Change on Protective Forests in Mountain Areas
This new article collection in Frontiers in Forests and Global Change aims at collecting recent advances in research to improve our understanding of the effects from the various aspects global change has on protective mountain forests, as individual or interacting factors.
Abstract submission deadline: 18 November 2022
PLOS Climate and PLOS Water: Nature-based Solutions
As interest and discussion grow around the potential of Nature-based Solutions for Climate and Water, PLOS Climate and PLOS Water are calling for submissions for a new Collection to build the evidence and critical perspectives needed to support, enhance and challenge decision-making.
Submission deadline: 13 December 2022
Annals of Glaciology Special Issue: Ice, Snow, Water, and Permafrost in a Warming World
The International Glaciological Society (IGS) will prepare a special issue of the Annals of Glaciology exploring how, as a result of global atmospheric warming, all components of Earth´s cryosphere are now changing at a dramatic pace.
Manuscript submission deadline: 31 December 2022
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Check out the MRI website for a full list of open calls and publication opportunities.
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The Embassy of Switzerland in Australia, with the support of the Swiss Polar Institute, is launching the Mertz Fellowship programme to promote linkages between Swiss and Australian higher education and research institutions through scientific networking and joint projects. The programme targets early-career researchers from the polar and high altitude science communities in Switzerland and Australia.
Submission deadline: 30 October 2022, 23:00 CET
SPIRIT Grants 2022
The Swiss Programme for International Research by Scientific Investigation Teams (SPIRIT) promotes team-oriented cross-border research. Funding is awarded to research projects with clearly defined goals that are submitted by excellent research consortia from two to four countries. Researchers from all disciplines can apply for a SPIRIT grant; the topics are chosen by the researchers themselves.
Submission deadline: 2 November 2022
Biodiversa+, the European Biodiversity Partnership under Horizon Europe, has launched a new transnational joint research call on 'Improved transnational monitoring of biodiversity and ecosystem change for science and society.'
Deadline for proposals: 9 November 2022
Leading House (LH) Africa is calling for applications for Research Partnership Grant I from advanced PhD students and early postdoctoral researchers affiliated with a Swiss Institution of Higher Education. The goal of this instrument is to further develop, consolidate and expand relations and foster new collaborations between Swiss researchers and partners in Africa.
Submission deadline: 26 November 2022
This program provides scholarships at The Ohio State University's Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center for postdoctoral researchers with superior academic backgrounds who are pursuing advanced research on topics relevant to polar and alpine environments as well as global climate change.
Application deadline: 13 January 2023
Leading House (LH) Africa, in conjunction with the Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), are calling for applications for the PhD Graduate Programme from organizers of Seasonal Schools in Swiss Institutions of Higher Education. The goal of this instrument is to promote research cooperation between Swiss and African PhD students of Higher Education Institutions in Seasonal School.
Submission deadline: 28 February 2023
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For a full list of open funding opportunities, please see our website.
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Planning Landscape and Urban Systems (PLUS), ETH Zurich, Switzerland
The Chair of Planning of Landscape and Urban Systems (PLUS) and MRI Co-PI, Adrienne Gret-Regamey, is offering a PhD in ecosystem services modelling. The project will investigate trade-offs in ecosystem services related to new renewable energy infrastructures in mountainous areas. They are especially looking for individuals interested in uncertainty quantification in ecosystem services assessments. Application deadline: 5 November 2022.
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A regularly updated compilation of mountain job opportunities can be found on our website.
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