Adventure of Science: Women and glaciers in Central Asia
“Adventure of Science” is getting ready for 2024!
Dear young women of Central Asia, we hope you are too!
Because we invite YOU once again to join us on a Teaching Expedition to witness the magic of glaciers, to learn about the environment, and to experience camping under the guidance of a motivated and passionate team of women! Our program is for all of YOU:
who are curious about the environment and wish to learn about nature
who want the opportunity to explore a wild environment
who wish to exchange and share with like-minded curious young women from across Central Asia.
During a 10-days free-of-charge expedition, you will have the opportunity to explore the Ala-Archa National Park in Kyrgyzstan and discover its wild environment. You will be part of a diverse team of 10 young women (18 - 25 years old) from across Central Asia and will spend these days in nature being introduced to the mountaineering and camping experience. You will be taught about environmental topics such as climate change and glaciology and will learn how to address such topics by designing your own scientific project in a group. After the expedition, two public events will allow you to share your discoveries with scientists and professionals in related fields: a post-expedition event in Kyrgyzstan and an international online symposium. The program is designed to encourage critical thinking, curiosity, and expression of all sorts!
Through this journey, you will be accompanied by an experienced, women-only instructor team and a female mountain guide. They will share with you their passion and will provide you with a safe space to express your ideas and formulate your questions.
Who are we?
Originally formed by two Swiss researchers, our team expanded and now encompasses members from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as Switzerland and Germany. We are certified by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
Dates of the Program?
The program will take place between the 21th and the 31th of August 2024.
Who can apply?
The program is open for all young women of Central Asian countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan between the ages of 18 to 25 years who are willing to learn. The expedition will be held in a bilingual format Russian-English; therefore, you need sufficient English or Russian skills to communicate actively with all participants.
We are looking for a diverse team with various perspectives, interests, and personalities. Therefore, we will not choose team members based solely on their individual applications but build the team as a whole, balancing insights, background, and energy. Do not worry if you have never taken part in a similar adventure; we are not looking for already skilled scientists and mountaineers, all we ask for is motivation and curiosity! Unfortunately, there are only a few spaces available so be quick to fill in your application form and let us know that you are interested! Please fill out the form as detailed as possible and let us know why you think that “Adventure of Science: Women and glaciers in Central Asia” is the right program for you!
Where can I apply?
Applications for our 2024 expedition are now closed !
For more information about our program, please first have a look at our FAQ.
If you have questions, to which our FAQ does not answer, then, please contact us here or through Instagram
History
The idea for “Adventure of Science: Women and glaciers in Central Asia” began during glaciological fieldwork and capacity building activities within the projects “Capacity building and Twinning for Climate Observing Systems” and “Cryospheric Climate Services for improved Adaptation”. Martina Barandun and Marlene Kronenberg were inspired by the energy of young women they met in Central Asia. Almost from the beginning, they have been involved as volunteers respectively instructors in Girls on Ice Switzerland (The first Inspiring Girls Expeditions in Switzerland) and dreamt of bringing it to Central Asia. The first Adventure of Science: Women and Glaciers in Central Asia expedition took place in 2019. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 and 2021 expeditions were replaced with online “Adventure of Science at Home” programs. Since 2020, international online symposiums were organized in the frame of the World Science Day for Peace and Development together with UNESCO Almaty, in which several international female scientists and professionals in related fields discussed climate and environmental topics as well as gender equality. Since 2022, “Adventure of Science” has been back to the field with 2022 and 2023 expeditions led under the Cryospheric Observation and Modelling for improved Adaptation in Central Asia (CROMO-ADAPT) project, from the University of Fribourg.
Financing and partners
“Adventure of science: Women and glaciers in Central Asia” is embedded in the project Cryospheric Observation and Modelling for improved Adaptation in Central Asia (CROMO-ADAPT) executed by the University of Fribourg, Switzerland and financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). “Adventure of science: Women and glaciers in Central Asia” is organized in collaboration with UNESCO office in Almaty, Girls on Ice Switzerland, and the Central Asian Institute of Applied Geosciences (CAIAG).
Our Team
