Seminar Series

The Seminar Series, organised by OCCR research groups, is public and open to all interested parties.

Paper of the month

Carbon storage potential in global forests

OCCR member Edouard Davin co-authored the article "Releasing global forests from human management: How much more carbon could be stored?" recently published in Science. The study assesses the additional biomass gain that would result from rewilding forests worldwide. It concludes that the carbon content would increase by about 15% even if all management ceased, corresponding to only 4 years of current CO2 emissions. Changing forest management, the authors argue, is therefore not an alternative to reducing carbon emissions.

Switzerland is looking for the largest hailstone

5 June 2023

To mark its 10th anniversary, the Mobiliar Lab for Natural Risks at the University of Bern is holding a competition on hail, looking for photos of large hailstones. The Mobiliar Lab works at the interface between science and practice and investigates how hail, floods and storms occur, and how damage can be reduced. It develops tools for better handling of natural risks.

"We should shine a much brighter spotlight on international research networks"

31 May 2023

Martin Grosjean, the director of the Oeschger Center, is also the co-chair of PAGES (Past Global Changes) since 2023. He shares his views in an interview about the role of international research networks and the importance of PAGES for the University of Bern’s reputation.

She makes dripstones talk

25 Mai 2023

Paleoclimatologist Franziska Lechleitner climbs into caves and examines stalagmites to unravel climatic changes of the past. Those, for example, that may have played a role in the collapse of the Mayan civilisation 1100 years ago.

Yes, to the Climate Protection Law

12 April 2023

On 18 June 2023, Switzerland will vote on the Climate Protection Act. Many members of the OCCR are among the more than 200 climate researchers who publicly support this law. The scientists say yes to the law, as it sets the reduction path for net zero, increases energy security, and promotes innovation and strengthens Switzerland.

Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation was more stable than thought

3 April 2023

A study by OCCR researchers published in the Nature Geoscience journal concludes that at the end of the last ice age there was not, as previously assumed, a complete collapse of the ocean circulation in the Atlantic, which provides a mild climate in Europe. This realization has implications for the discussion on climate tipping points.

The unlikely journey of an Indonesian PhD student to Bern

23 February 2023

Adrianus Damanik is a geology PhD student at the Oeschger Centre - and because of his Indonesian origins, he is an important bridge builder in a project on climate reconstruction from lake sediments in his home country.

Enthusiasm and success the second time around

30 January 2023

Costanza Fileccia graduated second best in her class at the Graduate School of Climate Sciences and was awarded a "2022 Oeschger Young Scientist's Prize". Now she’s conducting research on the effects of climate change on crops.

Ready for the energy transition

30 January 2023

Ursina Dorer graduated at the top of her class at the Graduate School of Climate Sciences and won a “2022 Oeschger Young Scientist’s Prize” for her achievement.
Today she helps power a solar energy company.

Fighting for a “crazy” project

23 January 2023

For an ambitious research project, Chinese environmental scientist Chuxian Li has found the ideal environment at the Oeschger Centre. She wants to determine the role of the Southern Ocean in the carbon cycle.

To the news archive.