The Uri Institute Cultures of the Alps focuses on the Alpine region from a transdisciplinary perspective and has established itself as a leading research institution beyond the borders of Central Switzerland in recent years. The Institute's growing reputation is also reflected in its own Graduate School. While initially all members came from the University of Lucerne - not least due to its close links with the university - the school has since attracted new members from outside the region. One example of such a new member is the ethnologist Kiah Lian Rutz.
From local knowledge to global research
As an ethnologist, Rutz conducts interviews and participatory observation - an ethnographic method that focuses on the attentive perception of the outside world. This enables her to understand how contemporary people live, understand the world and classify phenomena such as climate change.
Switzerland is a particularly suitable setting for Rutz's research, as the population has a very specific knowledge of snow. For example, Swiss knowledge about avalanches and avalanche protection is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is not feasible for an individual researcher to make a nationwide comparison of different localities and how they deal with the increasing scarcity of snow. For this reason, Rutz had to narrow down her field of research. She emphasized: “In the end, I chose the Surselva. On the one hand, the Grisons mountain valley allows me to go into depth, and on the other, it has the necessary size and diversity of sectors and species to make a living.” This allows her to compare several regions and municipalities within the valley, which in turn is essential for embedding the research results in a larger Swiss context.
The disappearance of snow: threat or opportunity?
Rutz began her field research last winter. The lack of snow is often only associated with the cold season. However, the extra-winter role of snow as part of the water cycle should not be ignored. For example, winters with little snow have a direct impact on summer alpine farming. The lack of water means, for example, that the grass cannot grow or the cows cannot quench their thirst.
The researcher has already established that three sectors - tourism, agriculture and hydropower - suffer particularly badly from the lack of snow. Interestingly, there are two camps in each of these sectors: those who see the loss of snow as a threat and others who see it as an opportunity. For example, some representatives of the agricultural sector see the decline in snow as a threat to alpine farming, while others see it as an opportunity to grow certain crops at higher altitudes. The tourism industry is also divided: On the one hand, people want to carry on until it is no longer possible; on the other, new strategies outside of winter tourism need to be developed. In order to remain sustainable, many resorts are trying to establish themselves as year-round destinations. And, last but not least, there are also various opinions in the hydroenergy sector in connection with this topic. The question of how long Switzerland will still have sufficient water resources and how these should be managed most effectively is being discussed in particular.
Published on 28. August 2024
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