Natalie Vögeli

Geologist, Co-President Girls on Ice Schweiz

While growing up in a town near Zurich, my family spent many holidays up in the Swiss mountains. I loved to look for crystals and other beautiful rocks and discover new places. After high school I ventured further afield, always travelling to places where there were mountains, so the decision to study Earth Science at ETH Zurich came naturally. I did my BSc and MSc degree in Geology and Geochemistry there, with some interruptions doing an internship and travelling again. Between my BSc and MSc I also crossed the Swiss Alps by foot, getting completely addicted to being in the mountains in the process.

For my PhD I moved to Grenoble, France, and studied the interactions between climate, erosion and tectonics in the Himalayas. I traveled to India and Nepal several times for field studies and had a great time working with the local people there. 

After my PhD, I came back to Switzerland, where I am now working as a specialist for anything built out of natural stone.

In winter you find me wherever the snow is and in summer where the rocks are. I’ve used to be a scout leader in my youth and the last 12 years I was a Scout leader for disabled kids. I enjoyed many camps and always loved being out in the woods, far away from everything else. Now I’m looking forward to a new adventure with Girls on Ice.

Co-President Girls* on Ice Switzerland, 2021 - present

Instructor alternative program Girls* on Ice Switzerland 2020