Speakers: Prof. Dr. Birgit Sattler University of Innsbruck, Austrian Polar Research Institute
& Dr. Klemens Weisleitner Polar researcher and scientific photographer
The polar regions are often regarded as untouched retreats of snow and ice. But this impression is misleading: even in the most remote areas of the Arctic and Antarctic, the traces of human activity have long been visible. Invisible pollutants, rising temperatures, and global changes are having an impact even in places where no human has ever been. In this multimedia lecture, Austrian polar researchers will show why these regions are far more than spectacular landscapes. Snow and ice form a sensitive ecosystem and serve as an early-warning system for the state of our planet. At the same time, the lecture offers insights into expeditions, logistical challenges, and life under extreme conditions in the eternal ice.