Girls* on Ice – Experiencing science, changing role models
The Department of Geography at the University of Zurich is a partner institution of the successful education and outreach programme. During a multi-day expedition in the high mountains, young women* experience glacier research first-hand, apply scientific methods and discover new perspectives in dialogue with experts.
The Girls* on Ice Switzerland association has become an established name in the Swiss glaciology and geoscience community in recent years. The programme's expeditions and school activities not only inspire with their scientific depth, but also with their social relevance, thus making an outstanding contribution to the advancement of women* in the natural sciences.
A network of committed female scientists from the environmental and natural sciences supports the programme with great voluntary commitment. The Girls* on Ice expeditions are aimed at a particularly relevant target group: young women* who experience glacier research first-hand during a multi-day expedition in the high mountains, apply scientific methods and discover new perspectives in dialogue with experts. A diverse expedition team is put together from the numerous applications, including participants from socially disadvantaged families. To make this possible, the expeditions are free of charge and all equipment is provided if required.
"Experiencing and sharing science in this way is a privilege that I would wish for everyone. We gain a different perspective than when learning from books in the classroom. Observing, exploring and understanding processes directly in nature has a lasting impact on most of us in terms of our self-image and our relationship with the environment."
Laura Niggli, active expedition leader
Expeditions, workshops and day excursions
In addition to the expeditions – the cornerstone of the programme – Girls* on Ice focuses on sustainable educational work: workshops and day excursions for school classes have been offered since 2020, allowing young people to experience scientific thinking, field research and environmental awareness first-hand.
In the workshops, former participants* visit school classes together with expedition leaders to talk about scientific work and the job description of a female researcher in authentic peer-to-peer communication and to impart knowledge about glaciers and climate change in interactive exercises. The emotional closeness and experience of female role models in traditionally male-dominated professional fields have a particularly strong impact, not only in the classroom, but often far beyond.
A central goal of the programme is to make it easier for young women* to access the natural sciences, break down barriers and establish personal contacts with female researchers in STEM professions. The day excursions for school classes bring scientific work to life and build bridges between theory and practice, experiencing nature and analysing data, emotion and knowledge.
Further expanding the cross-generational network
With renewed funding from the Federal Office for Gender Equality (EBG), the association aims to secure its structures in the long term and further expand its cross-generational network. It also aims to strengthen its links with partner organisations in science, education and business with the goal of achieving greater visibility and sustainable impact.
The Department of Geography at the University of Zurich (GIUZ) is proud to officially support Girls* on Ice as a partner institution. Many researchers at the institute have been closely involved in the programme for years, whether through scientific support, mentoring or contributions to educational work. As part of the partnership, the GIUZ provides project-related support through the Geography Teacher Training Unit, thereby strengthening the association's organisational basis.
The values and goals of Girls* on Ice are very much in line with the self-image of the Department of Geography. The focus is on promoting equal opportunities, direct exchange between science and society, and enthusiasm for geosciences. We look forward to future collaboration and many more inspiring expeditions into the world of glaciers, research and mutual encouragement.
* cisgender girls and transgender, agender, nonbinary, intersex, and genderqueer youth
Gear fairies for Girls* on Ice Switzerland
Girls* on Ice spends 8 days in tents next to the Weissmies Glacier, and for such an expedition it takes a lot of material and food. The participants pack their backpacks full, but still we need women* to help us bring the rest of the gear to the base camp at the beginning of the expedition and bring it all down again in the end. Would you like to get involved as a 'gear fairy'?
More ...
Kathrin Nägeli, Andreas Linsbauer, Laura Niggli, Lena Hellmann