For one week (25-31 May) the new campus of the University of the Aosta Valley transformed into a hub of scientific exchange, policy discussions, public engagement, and international cooperation on the future of Alpine regions on the occasion for the ForumAlpinum 2026.
The programme featured a series of meetings, workshops and side events organised in collaboration with the Italian Presidency of the Alpine Convention, local authorities, and other partners. In parallel, the International Scientific Committee on Research in the Alps (ISCAR) hosted a Summer School for young researchers from 25 to 30 May.
The central event of the week was the ForumAlpinum conference, dedicated to the theme “Alpine Communities and Territories in a Time of Glacier Loss and Climate Change.” More than 100 participants from across the Alpine region gathered to discuss the implications of glacier retreat and climate change for mountain communities. Participants were welcomed by several representatives, including Thomas Bunel, the new Deputy Secretary General of the Alpine Convention, who highlighted the importance of scientific research for sustainable development in the Alps.
The conference provided a platform for reflection and dialogue on the consequences of deglaciation in Alpine regions. Parallel sessions on Friday explored topics related to Society, Governance and Environment, accompanied by more than 40 poster presentations by scientists from all over the Alps and beyond. The week concluded on Saturday with an excursion to the Testa Grigia Observatory, a high-mountain research station located at 3,480m of altitude, where scientists analyse particle physics, atmospheric science, and climate change.
Several side events further enriched the programme. A political roundtable brought together key representatives from different levels of governance, including Renzo Testolin, President of the Autonomous Region of Aosta Valley; Alessandro Panza, a representative of the Italian Government Presidency of the Council of Ministers; and Jean Pierre Fosson, Secretary General of the Fondazione Montagna Sicura.
Public engagement also played a significant role throughout the week. Events included a public discussion on climate change held in Italian, a workshop presenting the work of the Italian Presidency on Alpine local adaptation practices, a workshop organised by the AlpPlan Network, and a screening of the documentary film Requiem in White.
By bringing together researchers, policymakers and citizens, the ForumAlpinum week highlighted the importance of collaboration across borders in addressing the challenges of glacier loss and climate change.