The 18th annual IPROMO summer school, hosted by the Mountain Partnership Secretariat (MPS) and the University of Turin, in collaboration with the town of Ormea and CNR IRPI, will focus on glacier preservation and the impacts of climate change on this ecosystem. The course will offer participants a comprehensive understanding of sustainable mountain development, emphasizing innovative strategies to protect glaciers, mitigate climate impacts and build resilience in mountain communities. 

Objectives

The IPROMO 2025 Summer School will focus on adaptation strategies, policies, tools and skills that promote sustainable development and resilience in mountain areas.  

Designed for young and mid-career professionals, this year’s course aims to equip participants with the knowledge and resources needed to address the unique challenges faced by mountain ecosystems and communities, particularly in light of climate change and its impact on glaciers. 

Lectures will explore climate change in mountain regions, glacier preservation and their critical contributions to mountain ecosystems and communities. The course will emphasize the interlinkages of glaciers with food security, biodiversity and livelihoods in these regions. 

Expected outcomes 

By the end of the course, participants will have a deep understanding of glacier preservation, cryosphere components and their fragility in mountain areas, and a broader perspective on sustainable mountain development.  

IPROMO graduates will become part of a unique alumni network of mountain researchers and practitioners, fostering future collaborations and synergies. 

Structure and venue 

The summer school will take place in person in two charming Italian alpine villages: Ormea in northwest Italy and Pieve Tesino in the northeast, with field trips to nearby areas. The course will accommodate about 30 participants, selected among officers, researchers and technicians working on mountain and cryosphere issues from around the world. 

Participants will arrive on 23 June 2025, with activities beginning on 24 June 2025, including an overview of the course. The summer school will end on 8 July 2025 with a closing ceremony.  

The course will include lectures, seminars, group work and field trips, led by experts from the United Nations system, universities, international organizations and non-governmental organizations.  

Given the challenging mountain environment, participants must demonstrate a high level of adaptability.  

The activities in Pieve Tesino will be supported by the Centre of Alpine Studies at the University of Tuscia, the City of Pieve Tesino, the Community of Valsugana and Tesino, and the Autonomous Province of Trento. 

In Ormea, the activities will be supported by the City of Ormea and organized by the University of Turin’s Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (DISAFA), the Interdepartmental Research Centre on Natural Risks in Mountain and Hilly Environments (NatRisk), and the National Research Council – Research Institute for Hydrogeological Prevention and Protection (CNR-IRPI). 

Requirements: 

• Excellent command of English
• Advanced scientific degree
• High degree of adaptability 

Click the “Visit Event” button below to read more about the event on the official website and to apply.

Cover image by Wikimedia Commons user GrazianoU.