| |
| |
| |
 Access the online version to explore our funding schemes,Flagship Initiatives, services, international and national collaboration, outreach programmes and various events that rhythmed the year.
Read and download our Annual Report (pdf) →
|
| |
Open calls & funding opportunities
|
| |
 © 2024 Nina Schuback, all rights reserved
The CASCADES expedition is a joint initiative of the Institut Nordique du Québec (INQ), the Swiss Polar Institute (SPI) and the French Polar Institute Paul-Émile Victor (IPEV) aiming to foster scientific collaboration between the scientific communities of Switzerland, France and the Canadian programme Transforming Climate Action (TCA).
The expedition will focus on the coastal region of West Greenland, Baffin Bay and Ellesmere Island. It will be carried out in two legs of 28 days each during summer and autumn 2026 onboard the Canadian research icebreaker CCGS Amundsen.
The deadline for submission is 2 June 2025, 12:00 CEST (noon). We look forward to your applications!
CASCADES Expedition detailed info & submission page →
 © Julien Girardot / Forel Heritage Association, all rights reserved
The SPI FOREL Grants fund Swiss-based scientists active in coastal polar and subpolar regions, the Arctic and Antarctic, on board the FOREL vessel. The geographic focus and calendar of the FOREL is defined annually by the Forel Heritage Association and communicated ahead of each FOREL Grant call for proposals.
2026 season:
-
Leg 1 – 15 June to 15 July: Scientific work on board FOREL will be embedded into the CASCADES expedition’s scientific plan and focus on complementary regions to those covered by the CCGS Amundsen with the goal to broaden the geographic coverage and scientific scope of the of the expedition.
-
Leg 2 – 15 July to 1 September: FOREL will carry out an independent campaign and focus its scientific work around the more rarely visited areas of South-East Greenland.
The deadline for submission is 15 June 2025, 12:00 CEST (noon). We look forward to your proposals!
SPI FOREL Grants detailed info & submission page →
The SPI Exploratory Grants support Swiss based scientists active in polar regions (including remote high-altitude regions such as the Andes and the Himalayas) by allowing them to launch short-term new ideas (for example pilot projects), fund additional fieldwork or launch new collaborations with financial support for logistics. Read more →
The SPI Technogrants support Swiss groups developing technologies relevant for research in polar and remote high-altitude regions. In particular, SPI Technogrants can be used to develop clean technologies increasing sustainability and lowering the environmental footprint of polar and high-altitude research whilst maximising scientific efforts in these regions. Read more →
SPI contributes to the cost related to the participation in field schools and training programmes to enable students and early-career scientists affiliated to a Swiss academic or research institution to acquire specialised experience and knowledge.
Applications always welcome!
Learn more & apply for SPI support →
|
| |
| |
|
Our next available training opportunity in collaboration with GRIMM:
A two-day course addressing the needs of scientific groups going into the field focuses on first-aid practices in special conditions encountered in cold and remote regions.
Find out more →
Watch the video on YouTube →
|
| |
| |
|
Other available courses:
HUET can be compulsory for scientists wishing to work in certain environments. For this reason, SPI collaborates with Air Zermatt to offer access to HUET certification organised in Switzerland and contributes to the costs of registration of scientific personnel affiliated to a Swiss research institution preparing field trips in polar regions.
Please note that content and physical requirements for this particular course on 18 June may be more advanced than usual.
Find out more →
|
|
For scientists working in northern regions the presence of polar bears is a risk that should not be underestimated. For this reason, SPI collaborates with the Alfred Wegener Institute in Germany to make training courses about polar bear awareness and handling of weapons available to Swiss-based scientists.
Find out more →
|
| |
| |
"Images d'une beauté terrifiante" exhibition • 2 May-29 June @ Fondation suisse, Paris
|
| |
|
The "erschreckend schöne Bilder" exhibition created and curated by the students from the Fachklasse Grafik Luzern and the Institute of Geography at the University of Zurich is presented at the Fondation suisse / Pavillon Le Corbusier since 2 May. It is an open invitation to talk about the effects of human action on the climate and how we perceive these impacts. This French edition is a collaboration between Swiss Polar Institute, Fondation suisse and the Embassy of Switzerland in France, and benefitted from generous support from Presence Switzerland and Oertli Stiftung.
Free entry | Every day 10:00-12:00 & 14:00-17:00
To the exhibition page (in French) →
|
| |
reProjecting Science • 13 May @ Le Nucléo - Vortex (UNIL)
|
| |
|
The third and last screening of the 1st edition of reProjecting Science will present the compelling documentary "Picture a Scientist". The film chronicles the groundswell of researchers who are writing a new chapter for women scientists.
The screening will be followed by a panel discussion and an aperitif.
Free entry | 18:00
More info & registration →
|
| |
Swiss Polar Class at Scientastic! • 17-18 May @ Alpole, Sion
|
| |
 © Scientastic / EPFL, all rights reserved
|
| |
ECR Event – Conducting fieldwork as guests in the postcolonial Arctic • 10 June @ Alpole, Sion & online
|
| |
|
On 10 June, SPI welcomes Yvon Csonka, anthropologist and former professor at the University of Greenland.
“Nowhere a ‘no man’s land’”: in what political, historical, cultural and ethical contexts do southern researchers insert themselves, whatever their discipline and topic, when in the field? The presentation, followed by a discussion, will provide an introduction to the inhabited Arctic.
This event is specifically designed for early-career researchers from all disciplines to learn more about the various challenges of fieldwork, and most importantly, how to navigate around them.
The event will be followed by a networking drink.
For logistical and catering reasons, we invite you to register by completing this form →
|
| |
|
The Swiss Polar Day 2025 will take place on 5 September at ETH Zurich. This event is the annual gathering of the Swiss polar science community and includes national and international keynotes, networking opportunities and updates on recent developments in polar research. This edition will also host the award ceremony of the Prix de Quervain dedicated this year to high-altitude research.
The venue and the programme will be published in due time.
We invite you to save the date and look forward to seeing you in Zurich!
To the event's webpage →
|
| |
| |
New guide to publishing polar data available
Produced by SCADM, ADC and Southern Ocean Observing System Data Management Sub-Committee, the guide aims to provide the polar research community with key concepts and tips to ensure the published data are FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable). The outlined principles also help ensure that data are cited and attributed correctly, enhancing the positive impact of polar research.
Citation and full download:
SCAR Standing Committee on Antarctic Data Management (SCADM), Arctic Data Committee (ADC), & Southern Ocean Observing System Data Management Sub-Committee. (2025). A Brief Guide to Publishing Data for the Polar Research Community (1.0). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15167022
|
| |
| |
2025 SCAR Fellowship & 2025 SCAR Visiting Scholar Scheme
Applications for the 2025 SCAR Fellowship for early-career researchers has opened and welcomes applications until 31 July 2025. More info →
Applications for the 2025 SCAR Visiting Scholar Scheme are now open. This opportunity is tailored for mid- to late-career scientists and academics actively involved in Antarctic research. The scheme offers short-term visits (1 to 4 weeks) to institutes in other SCAR member countries to provide training and mentoring. The deadline for applications is 31 August 2025. More info →
|
| |
| |
Avant-premiere of "Climat décodé" documentary
Produced by the Geneva association SciencEscape, the "Climat décodé" documentary provides insights to understand and anticipate climate challenges through informed collective actions.
The event will be held in French and thescreening will be followed by a roundtable discussion and an aperitif.
Thursday 8 May at 18:00 at Uni Dufour, Rue du Général Dufour 24, 1204 Genève. Free entry.
More info (in French) →
|
| |
| |
Christening of Tara Polar Station
On Thursday 24 April, Tara Polar Station was christened in the port of Lorient, France. SPI attended this highly anticipated event that gathered polar experts from around the globe. The drifting polar scientific base aims to embark scientists from all over the world on multiple successive drifts in the Arctic.
More info →
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
Outreach
New educational content from Swiss Polar Class
|
| |
| |
 © 2025 Swiss Polar Class, all rights reserved
Online-Event "Frag den Polarforscher" on 20 May for German-speaking primary classes
Next "Ask a scientist" online event will feature a live discussion with scientists at the Neumeyer Station III in Antarctica. More info (in German) →
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
