Martina Barandun

Glaciologist, Founder of Adventure of Science

I grew up on a farm in a small town in the mountains in Switzerland. As a young girl, I was often outside and felt very connected to nature. Processes shaping our landscapes, and especially our alpine environment fascinated me at an early age and shaped my career as a Geographer. Today, I am a Glaciologist working as a researcher at the University of Fribourg and at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland. I have obtained my PhD degree at the University of Fribourg in 2018. During my studies, I focused my research on glacier changes in Central Asian in relation to ongoing climate change. Since 2012, I have travel every year to Central Asia for a field visit and student training. During this time, I got to know the Central Asian mountains and culture. Central Asia has become a second home for me. I have a long-standing experience in organizing and leading field measurements but also training courses for young scientists. With this programme I hope to pass on my passion for the alpine environment of the Tien Shan and Pamir to the women in Central Asia.

Adventure of Science Instructor - 2019