Alpine Changemaker Network

Oct 09, 2020

The Alps, with their diversity and contrasts, offer particular scope for experimentation that combines and develops tradition and innovation. The sometimes adverse living conditions have always required people to be imaginative and flexible to allow them to open up new perspectives. This potential must be made visible and usable for sustainable development.

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(c) Katharina Söldner

A concrete step in this direction is the foundation of the “Alpine Changemaker Network”, a transdisciplinary network. The aim of this network is to promote education, research and development as well as practical action in the Alpine regions, together with exchanges between these. The network brings together organisations from the fields of education, regional development and the environment, transcending national borders, generational divides, institutional barriers and cultural approaches to thought and action. The aim is to create an environment that will promote the emergence of “Alpine changemakers” as drivers of change.

As a first pilot project, the “Alpine Changemaker Basecamp”, to be held in summer 2021 in Valposchiavo, Switzerland, will be a temporary, experimentally oriented actual laboratory, framed by a mentoring programme. Young people will develop solutions to challenges facing the Alps under local conditions.

The network and the pilot project will be accompanied by a reflection group. This group will support and accompany the conception, methodology, programme development, topic identification and dissemination of results, then carry out an evaluation. The establishment of the network and the conception of the basecamp are funded by the pancivis Foundation and the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV).

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Partners

CIPRA International, Schaan/LI
creativeALPS, Berchtesgaden/D
Bern University of Applied Sciences/CH, represented by the Alpine Master’s Life Sciences - Regional Management in Mountain Areas
University of Liechtenstein, represented by the Institute for Architecture and Spatial Development
Bavarian Academy for Nature Conservation and Landscape Management/D, educational and research institution for modern nature conservation and innovative environmental education
Polo Poschiavo, competence centre for further education and the monitoring of development projects
Zurich University of the Arts/CH, represented by the Department of Cultural Analysis and the MA in Transdisciplinary Studies
Scuola per il Governo del Territorio e del Paesaggio step – Trentino School of Management tsm, Trento/I
BASIS, Social Activation Hub focused on regional and social development in the areas of economy, culture, education & social affairs, Silandro/I
MonViso Institute, Ostana/I, Centre for Sustainability and Systemic Design
Werkraum Bregenzerwald, Andelsbuch/A

Reflection Group

European Academy Bolzano/I Eurac
Educ'alpes, Gap/F
Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention, Innsbruck/A
Regional Development Vorarlberg Regio-V, Dornbirn/A
Uri Institute of Alpine Cultures at the University of Lucerne/CH
Zurich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW, Research Unit Tourism and Sustainable Development, Wergenstein/CH
Kamnik Library/SI