News

Stefan Brönnimann from the PALAEO-RA project of the Institute of Geography (palaeo-ra.unibe.ch) has released an e-learning tool for weather reconstructions. On www.weather-reconstruction.org, students and anyone interested can learn step-by-step how historical manuscript data can eventually lead to complex climate information such as hazard maps. The tool focuses on sources of uncertainty and the application of reanalysis data and other data products in a meaningful way. Data can be downloaded for analyses in statistical software and visualization tools. The sections Climate Data, Global Reanalyses and Downscaling and Applications each starts with a very short text and the video followed by 2–4 subsections, typically with an exercise.

In addition, introduction videos give a concise overview of each section:

For his project “Is environmental justice necessary for human well-being? Comparative analysis of certification schemes, inclusive business, and solidarity economy strategies (COMPASS)”, Christoph Oberlack of CDE and GIUB, University of Bern, has been awarded a European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant. The project examines the role of environmental justice in enabling certification systems, inclusive business models, and solidarity-economy strategies to enhance the well-being of smallholder producers. In particular, it investigates the value chains of coffee and cocoa in Peru and Switzerland.

The Institute supports the Better Science Initiative, which calls for a rethinking in academia towards more sustainability, diversity and equal opportunity. We invite other institutes to also sign up and to implement the 10 calls to action: betterscience.ch/en/calls-to-action/#/

Heike Mayer and Miriam Hug wrote a blog entry for the European Geosciences Union (EGU) about their experiences developing a hybrid format for the economic geography field course. Students developed innovative learning outcomes such as reports and films for this course.

Dr. Christoph Aubrecht (ESA – World Bank)
Colloquium in Climatology, Climate Impact and Remote Sensing
(14:00 – 15:15, Zoom Room: Link)
To participate via Zoom, a password is required. The password can be requested via e-mail.

• Marco Planzer
  «On the Role of Building Characteristics for Vulnerability to Hail»
  (14:30 – 15:30, Zoom-Meeting)

Angelina Davydova, Aleksandra Koroleva, Heino Meessen and Kyryl Savin
in discussion with Eva Maurer and Alexander Vorbrugg (podium, German/English)
Sustainability Forum 2020: Ecological Transformations in Eastern Europe
Unit Critical Sustainability Studies and Swiss Library of Eastern Europe (SOB)
(18:15 – 19:45, live stream and Zoom/registration)