Institute for Interdisciplinary Mountain Research
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The Institute for Interdisciplinary Mountain Research (IGF), previously the Institute for Mountain Research: Man and the Environment , is an institution of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Innsbruck .
History and structure
The institute was established on April 1, 2006 as a research center of the Austrian Academy of Sciences and was converted into an institute in 2010. It comprised the departments “GLORIA”, “Man & Environment” and “Global Change”. In 2012 the academy decided to cancel the time limit and rename it to the Institute for Interdisciplinary Mountain Research . It is divided into four departments (Ecology and Climate Impacts, Human-Environment Relationship, Global Change and Scientific Support) and has nine permanent positions and a total of 28 employees. Axel Borsdorf was the director from its founding until the end of 2016 ; the institute is currently headed by Andrea Fischer on a provisional basis . Deputy director is Harald Pauli (previously: Georg Grabherr and Johann Stötter ).
tasks and goals
The institute aims to conduct research in the mountain regions of the world in an interdisciplinary manner and in close cooperation with international groups of scientists. Around 12% of humanity lives in mountain areas . In contrast, more than half of the world's population benefits from the mountains and their resources (water, energy, minerals, etc.). However, mountains are ecologically and economically extremely sensitive areas. Therefore, the investigation of the influences of climate change and globalization is of great relevance for the future viability of mankind.
With the establishment of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Mountain Research (IGF), the Austrian Academy of Sciences has created a research facility in the Alpine country of Austria that has given Austria a leading role in international interdisciplinary mountain research ( Montology ). At the IGF, global change and its impact on mountain regions around the world are examined.
This is done by v. a. More than 400 observation stations (in 120 study areas) in the most important mountains in the world ( GLORIA ), the recording and evaluation of glacier movements and mass balances in the Eastern Alps as well as long-term monitoring of spatial development for the entire Alpine region. The recording of climate changes and their consequences as well as the effects of globalization is not possible without long-term monitoring. The ÖAW, which, unlike the universities, is specifically geared towards carrying out long - term research due to its framework conditions , runs some meaningful programs with the IGF that are of particular value in the course of the current climate and sustainability discussion.
Climate change and globalization are also examined under the question of human-environment relationships in cultural landscapes , mountain towns and mountain protection areas , with the implementation of inter- and transdisciplinary approaches and in cooperation with international partners. This is a unique selling point of the IGF in Austria, but only a few mountain research institutes work on an inter- and transdisciplinary basis internationally. Ecological, social and economic issues are linked and dealt with on a long-term basis. In addition to basic research, the findings also serve to develop development and adaptation strategies.
The IGF feels committed to the sustainability approach of the Alpine Convention not only in the Alps . The projects carried out at the research center are designed in such a way that the results can also be used in other mountain regions.
Awards
In 2012 the deputy director of the IGF, Georg Grabherr, was elected Scientist of the Year by a high-ranking jury . In 2013 the IGF employee Andrea Fischer was awarded the Austria 2013 as Austrian of the Year in the field of research for her achievements in the field of long-term glacier research. She is the youngest researcher to be named Researcher of the Year . In 2015, Kay Helfricht was the first to receive the highly endowed Dr. Gottfried and Dr. Vera Weiss Prize. In 2015 the institute was recognized as a Regional Educational Competence Center by the Federal Minister for Education and Research.
Publications
The institute has published the IGF research reports series since 2006 and the eco.mont - Journal on Protected Mountain Areas Research and Management since 2008 . The latter is listed in the Science Citation Index Expanded . In 2010 the anthology Challenges for Mountain Regions was published. Tackling Complexity published by Böhlau Verlag in Vienna .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ team. Retrieved July 28, 2019 .
- ^ Entry: Journal Search… In: Thomson Reuters Web of Science. Thomson Reuters , 2014, accessed July 10, 2014.