Dr. Juliane Dame from our research group won this year's Dr. Hohmann Award of the Gesellschaft für Erdkunde zu Köln e.V. (GfE). She convinced the reviewers with her project proposal "From the Himalayas to the Andes: Ice stupas as a climate adaptation measure in arid mountain regions". Ice stupas, a type of artificial glacier, are an innovative climate adaptation measure and can have a lasting positive impact on the water supply in arid mountain regions. Ice stupas have already been successfully used in regions of the Himalayas. In 2021, an ice stupa was established for the first time near the Santiago de Chile metropolitan region. On the one hand, the project follows the implementation of ice stupas in Chile and analyzes the actors involved as well as the challenges of implementation. On the other hand, differences and similarities between the implementation in the Transhimalaya and the Andes will be identified and the transfer of the technology into different spatial and cultural contexts will be explored. In doing so, the project makes a relevant contribution to climate adaptation research.
The aim of the Gesellschaft für Erdkunde zu Köln e.V. (GfE) is to communicate geographical knowledge, regionally and thematically. This is not only about passing on urban-rural-river knowledge or opening eyes for fascinating landscapes, but also about raising awareness for urgent problems of the 21st century and possible solutions. In order to promote young scientists, the GfE awards financial support of up to 5,000 euros each year for research projects by geographers from North Rhine-Westphalia.
We congratulate Juliane Dame on this great award and wish her all the best for her next research stay in Chile!