30.05.2026 | 18:00
Alpine communities and territories in a time of glacier loss and climate change.
With a focus on environmental challenges, socio-economic transformations and adaptation strategies, the ForumAlpinum 2026 positions itself as a moment of multidisciplinary technical-scientific and political reflection on the consequences of deglaciation in Alpine regions (and beyond), with particular attention to environmental, cultural and economic impacts. The ForumAlpinum 2026 is organised by the International Scientific Committee on Reseach in the Alps (ISCAR), and will take place from 28-30 May 2026 in Italy’s Aosta Valley.
The progressive retreat of glaciers, accelerated by climate change, is profoundly modifying the landscape, water resources, biodiversity and traditional activities of mountain communities. In some cases, this even includes the territorial structure created by humans over time through the construction of roads, settlements and pastures. The conference aims to identify emerging challenges, land-use conflicts and the impact of climate change, as well as new forms of resilience, regional development, territorial planning and social innovation. These are intended to address the aforementioned challenges and preserve the identity and sustainability of these territories for future generations. ForumAlpinum 2026 will take a closer look and will discuss different perspectives that go beyond the current situation.
Foreseen parallel sessions:
1) Governance of Alpine territorial systems following glacier loss:
adaptation & mitigation, governance of resources, governance of public systems, governance of adaptation and transition processes, cascade effects, etc.
2) The impacts of cryosphere decline on environmental and cultural systems:
natural resources, biodiversity, landscape, tourism, community identity, etc.
3) The consequences on territorial and urban systems:
planning, depopulation, architecture, mobility, lowlands, cascade effects, etc.
4) The challenges posed to the economy and society:
community resilience, conflicts management, adaptation & mitigation, quality of life, youths, education, research, etc.
ForumAlpinum 2026 Calls
Call for contributions: We invite you to submit your proposal for scientific presentations at ForumAlpinum 2026, addressing the main conference theme, one or several of the topics listed above or any other climate-change and cryosphere decline impacts and/or solutions in the Alps related topic. The call is open to all academics, sectoral operators, politics and public administrators. We very welcome contributions by young academics (under 35).
Call for posters for young researchers: We invite university students, young and early-career researchers (under 35) from various scientific disciplines to present posters with their research findings relating and relevant to the Alps. Poster topics may relate to the main conference theme, but contributions on other related alpine topics are very welcome as well. Poster presentations are particularly suitable to present work in progress and foster discussions and exchange. In addition, you will have an opportunity to discuss your findings with your counterparts and to establish contacts with researchers from other European countries on topics related to the Alps. A 3-minute public presentation of the poster is required from each author or co-author.
Call for project posters: Are you working, have you worked, or will you be working on an international, national, regional, or very local project related to the themes of the conference? This is the right place to present a poster dedicated to your project / project idea! Poster presentations are particularly suitable to present work in progress and foster discussions and exchange. In addition, you will have an opportunity to discuss your findings with your counterparts and to establish contacts with people from European countries on topics related to the Alps. A 3-minute public presentation of the poster is required from each author or co-author. The presence of one of the authors is required.
You will be informed on the acceptance of your contributions and posters by 23 March 2026.
All calls are open until 27 February 2026.
Photo by Pietro De Grandi.