"Mountain Protecting School" or "The Institution advocating for mountain conservation"
In the picturesque town of Ceresole Reale, nestled within the Gran Paradiso National Park, the 2025 edition of the "Fragile Ice" summer school commenced on July 28. This educational initiative, coordinated by the scientific society "The Meridians" in collaboration with the Italian Meteorological Society and the University of Siena, aims to increase climate change awareness and educate participants on the urgent need for action to preserve fragile polar ice environments.
Luca Cavallo, an agronomist, was one of the speakers at this year's event, discussing the effects of temperature increases on mountain agriculture, viticulture, and dairy production. The summer school, however, is not just about scientific seminars. It includes art workshops, led by watercolorist and botanist Lorenzo Dotti, and discussions on the impact of climate change on agriculture.
Iren technicians guided the participants on a visit to the Serrù dam in the high Orco Valley, offering a practical insight into the role of engineering in addressing climate change challenges. The conferences during the summer school are dedicated to the loss of glaciers and the artifacts and memories they reveal as they retreat.
The "Fragile Ice" project, initiated in 2016, was an idea by geologist and teacher Gianni Boschis. It emphasizes the need for skilled professionals in territorial planning, energy engineering, sustainable architecture, agronomy, forestry, climatology, hydrology, ecology, and related fields. The project continues to evolve, incorporating diverse perspectives and disciplines to address the complex challenges posed by climate change.
The 2025 edition of the summer school has thirty participants from all over Italy, including seven newly graduated high school students. The project promotes innovative and interdisciplinary teaching methods to prepare the next generations to face the challenges of a rapidly transforming world.
The summer school concludes on August 3, 2025, on the glaciers of Mont Blanc overlooking Courmayeur. Alpine guides and CAI guides from Almese will lead a group on an excursion to the Gigante Glacier on Mont Blanc on Sunday. The "Fragile Ice" project is a testament to the importance of education and awareness in addressing the climate crisis, engaging students, researchers, mountain territory operators, environmental and hiking guides, and mountain guides in the quest for a sustainable future.
References: [1] Climate Central [4] NASA [5] Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
- This year's "Fragile Ice" summer school, held in Ceresole Reale, offers learning opportunities in environmental science, such as the impact of climate change on agriculture and mountain ecosystems, as part of a lifelong learning approach to prepare participants for the challenges of our rapidly transforming world.
- The lectures and art workshops during the summer school also emphasize the role of engineers, architects, and other professionals in addressing climate change, aligning with the goal of promoting various interdisciplinary teaching methods to create a more sustainable future.
- Despite focusing on scientific topics, the "Fragile Ice" project sets the average student's grade at college level, reflecting its aim to appeal to a wide audience, including students fresh out of high school, in promoting a broader understanding and awareness of climate change and the environment.
