Adventure of Science: Women and glaciers in Central Asia
Join us Tuesday (05.11.24) for the closing event of our 2024 program: the Online Symposium of “Adventure of Science”!
The Symposium concludes this year's Adventure of Science expedition and focuses on the "Downstream System of Central Asia Glaciers". Join us to discover our program, and to attend a series of presentations by our 2024 participants and invited international speakers from the fields of science, eco-activism and the arts. Afterwards, we will dive into a panel discussion on "Water Resource Challenges and Gender Dynamics".
To attend, please register using this form by 3 November 2024. A link to join the symposium will be shared with registered participants. Follow the Updates on our Social Media
Adventure of Science
We organise annual tuition-free scientific and glaciological expeditions in Central Asia for young women (18-25 years old) from the region. Our 10 participants spend the expedition days in nature, being introduced to mountaineering and camping. They are taught about environmental issues, with a focus on glaciology, and learn to address these issues by designing their own scientific project in groups. The programme is designed to encourage critical thinking, curiosity and expression! Participants are accompanied by an all-female team of instructors and a female mountain guide.
Who are we?
Originally formed by two Swiss researchers, our team expanded and now encompasses members from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as Switzerland and Germany. We are certified by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
Dates of the Program?
The program took place in August 2024. The dates for the 2025 program are not out yet!
Who can apply?
The program is open for all young women of Central Asian countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan between the ages of 18 to 25 years who are willing to learn. The expedition will be held in a bilingual format Russian-English; therefore, you need sufficient English or Russian skills to communicate actively with all participants.
We are looking for a diverse team with various perspectives, interests, and personalities. Therefore, we will not choose team members based solely on their individual applications but build the team as a whole, balancing insights, background, and energy. Do not worry if you have never taken part in a similar adventure; we are not looking for already skilled scientists and mountaineers, all we ask for is motivation and curiosity! Unfortunately, there are only a few spaces available so be quick to fill in your application form and let us know that you are interested! Please fill out the form as detailed as possible and let us know why you think that “Adventure of Science: Women and glaciers in Central Asia” is the right program for you!
Where can I apply?
Applications for our 2024 expedition are now closed ! Keep an eye open for the 2025 program!
For more information about our program, please first have a look at our FAQ.
If you have questions, to which our FAQ does not answer, then, please contact us here or through Instagram
History
The idea for “Adventure of Science: Women and glaciers in Central Asia” began during glaciological fieldwork and capacity building activities within the projects “Capacity building and Twinning for Climate Observing Systems” and “Cryospheric Climate Services for improved Adaptation”. Martina Barandun and Marlene Kronenberg were inspired by the energy of young women they met in Central Asia. Almost from the beginning, they have been involved as volunteers respectively instructors in Girls on Ice Switzerland (The first Inspiring Girls Expeditions in Switzerland) and dreamt of bringing it to Central Asia. The first Adventure of Science: Women and Glaciers in Central Asia expedition took place in 2019. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 and 2021 expeditions were replaced with online “Adventure of Science at Home” programs. Since 2020, international online symposiums were organized in the frame of the World Science Day for Peace and Development together with UNESCO Almaty, in which several international female scientists and professionals in related fields discussed climate and environmental topics as well as gender equality. Since 2022, “Adventure of Science” has been back to the field with 2022 and 2023 expeditions led under the Cryospheric Observation and Modelling for improved Adaptation in Central Asia (CROMO-ADAPT) project, from the University of Fribourg.
Financing and partners
“Adventure of science: Women and glaciers in Central Asia” is embedded in the project Cryospheric Observation and Modelling for improved Adaptation in Central Asia (CROMO-ADAPT) executed by the University of Fribourg, Switzerland and financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). “Adventure of science: Women and glaciers in Central Asia” is organized in collaboration with UNESCO office in Almaty, Girls on Ice Switzerland, and the Central Asian Institute of Applied Geosciences (CAIAG).
Our Team
