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 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.
Each person may submit a maximum of 1 contribution (oral presentation) and 2 posters (young researcher poster and/or project poster) as the main author and thus presenter. However, it is possible to be listed as a co-author in other contributions and posters.
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.
We will inform you about the acceptance of your contributions and posters by 23 March 2026.
ForumAlpinum 2026 is an onsite conference. No fee is required for the participation. The registration will open in spring 2026. Here you will find further useful information.
ISCAR organises the ForumAlpinum 2026 in May in Valle d’Aosta region (Italy). The conference on Friday, 29 May 2026, takes place in the City of Aosta and is part of a week of various back-to-back activities and integrated into the events calendar of the Italian presidency of the Alpine Convention. For Saturday, 30 May, a technical excursion guided by the Aosta Valley Region is planned with technical and political discussions directly in the locations in Aosta Valley that reflect the Forum’s contents. For more information see Programme.
Context
The ForumAlpinum is an interdisciplinary scientific conference series, organised by ISCAR (International Scientific Committee on Research in the Alps) together with partners across the European Alps. The conference aims to connect natural sciences, humanities and society for sustainable development in the European Alps, according to the principles of the Alpine Convention. It promotes the excellence in research and the cooperation at national and international level, on highly relevant topics throughout the Alpine arc. ForumAlpinum is designed as an interface between the scientific community and policies, offering opportunities for science-policy dialogue with a special focus on younger generations.
ISCAR for the 2026-2027 biennium is chaired by Italy and represented by the Department for Regional Affairs and Autonomies (DARA) of the Italian Presidency of the Council of Ministers, in collaboration with national and international partners from all Alpine countries.
new MRD article On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the ForumAlpinum conference series, the International Scientific Committee on Research in the Alps (ISCAR) presents the history and impact of this Alpine-wide conference in a Weiterlesen
