At this year’s Austria25 Gala hosted by Die Presse, APRI Director and limnologist at the University of Innsbruck, Birgit Sattler, was named Austrian of the Year in the Climate Initiative category.
The award recognizes her commitment to climate protection and her pioneering research on glacier ecosystems across the Arctic, the Alps, and Antarctica. Through the Glacier Stewardship Program, which she co-initiated, Sattler advocates for documenting biological diversity within ice, developing new technologies to protect glaciers, and identifying natural hazards at an early stage.
In her acceptance speech, Sattler emphasized the importance of collaboration:
“Climate action only works together – this award is for all of us.”
Dr. Birgit Sattler
Her research team at the University of Innsbruck and beyond, the Cryos group, represented the collective effort behind this achievement.
This recognition not only highlights the accomplishments of an outstanding scientist, but also underscores the vital role of glaciers as mirrors of our society and as key indicators of the global climate and biodiversity crises.