PEAK -Spotlight on Climate, Biodiversity and Sustainability

The effects of human-induced climate change are evident across many sectors of society and are set to become more pronounced in the near future. The regular reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change highlight the serious nature of the situation. However, they also shed light on possible solutions, which call for a significant societal transformation. At the University of Innsbruck, researchers tackle various aspects of climate and sustainability. Both the natural sciences and the insights from social sciences and humanities are instrumental in this endeavor. The University's communications team has unified this breadth of expertise under the banner of PEAK (Perspectives on Engagement, Accountability, and Knowledge).

The climate crisis is not one topic but — like democracy and human rights — is one dimension of every topic.
Charter of the Climate Journalism Network Austria

LATEST RESEARCH

Climate Crisis Threatens Alpine Ecosystems

Mountains are particularly affected by climate change: they are warming faster than the lowlands. As the temperature rises, the snow cover is reduced and dwarf shrubs are spreading to higher altitudes - with a strong impact on the seasonal processes of sensitive Alpine ecosystems. This is shown by a new study involving Innsbruck ecologist Michael Bahn, who has carried out field studies over several years in the rear Ötztal valley in Tyrol.

Natalia Piórecka wins New European Bauhaus Prize

Natalia Piórecka, Senior Scientist at Integrative Design / Extremes at the Institute of Experimental Architecture at the University of Innsbruck, has been awarded the prestigious New European Bauhaus Prize for her project UrbanMYCOskin.

Cross-alpine transit protests

When the large highways crossing the Austrian and Swiss Alps were built, citizens’ movements protesting the transalpine traffic started to form in both countries from the 1970s onwards. They found common ground in blaming EU policy but overall employed distinct methods, also with varying success, and never really joined forces. In a recent project, historians in Innsbruck, Basel and Munich made these two environmental initiatives the subject of their comparative research.

People sitting on steps in an auditorium

Climate report for Austria

Since March 2022, 125 experts from Austrian climate, biodiversity and sustainability research have been working on the 2nd National Assessment Report on Climate Change in Austria (AAR2).

PEAK-EXPERTS

Experts at a glance

Alongside an overview of current research at the University of Innsbruck, PEAK also includes an expert database. Each researcher is featured here with an overview page containing contact details, key topics, a short biography and a selection of their previous media presence.

All of this content feeds a full-text search, which makes it possible to access this database based on a thematic interest and thus individual keywords.

Please note: This list is constantly being expanded!