Research Area Mountain Regions

http://www.uibk.ac.at/alpinerraum/

Head

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Stefan Mayr (Department of Botany)

Deputy Head

PD Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Barbara Schneider-Muntau (Geotechnical and Tunnel Engineering Section)

Coordinator

Dr. Wolfgang Gurgiser (Department of Atmospheric and Cryospheric Sciences)

Research Objectives

The Research Focus Mountain Regions at the University of Innsbruck is the only spatially defined research focus in Austria. Its foundation was motivated by the long tradition of the University of Innsbruck in research in mountain areas worldwide, combined with the unique location of the university in the middle of the Eastern Alps.

The research focus benefits from a broad field of expertise with a special focus on mountain areas. Based on the idea of a multifaculty University, we have experts from 8 research centers working in natural and technical sciences, in social, economic as well as in cultural, sport and health sciences.

Thanks to the different disciplines involved, our research focus is able to address topics relevant to mountain areas from various perspectives. This is becoming more and more important, as mountain regions are considered especially vulnerable to increasing climate change impacts and globalization. We react to these issues by merging results from all embedded disciplines and extending the output in interdisciplinary research frameworks. Beyond fundamental research, the interdisciplinary strategy should help to contribute to smart solutions for sustainable development in mountain areas, and to pursue outreach activities in mountain communities.

Interview with Hannelore Weck-Hannemann (Video)