AUSTRIAN & ITALIAN ALPS
Alpine Climate & Culture
2027 Applications Open March 1
Alpine Climate & Culture
Austria & Italy
For centuries, painters, poets, and explorers have documented the human connection to mountains in work that provides a record of environmental change and humans’ shifting relationship to these complex systems. Roughly one quarter of the earth’s land surface is covered by mountains and today mountain landscapes are home to more than one billion people, supporting various livelihoods, especially those related to recreation and tourism. Compared to other terrestrial ecosystems, mountain ecosystems are particularly sensitive to the effects of anthropogenic climate change. Yet not all mountains are equal and emerging research demonstrates that these systems respond variably to climate change, impacting landforms, ecosystems, and cultures in sometimes surprisingly different ways.
During spring semester, online learners will utilize an interdisciplinary approach to consider how we are adapting our relationship to mountains as pressures from climate change–such as glacial retreat, permafrost warning, increased hazards, and shifts in agriculture, forestry, and tourism–are mounting.
Students who choose to participate in the optional field course during summer will explore on foot the contemporary landscapes and cultures of Europe’s high alpine and surrounding communities with an eye to human history and futures in the region.
SPRING COURSE
The program begins with a spring course establishing foundational knowledge in alpine systems, mountain ecology, climate change impacts, and interdisciplinary frameworks that define human-mountain relationships and cultural adaptation.
ENR 4965 / 5965 Alpine Climate & Culture | 3 credits *
Online Asynchronous, 2nd Block
This spring course is open to all UW students, participation in the field experience is optional.
ENR 4965 / 5965 Field Experience: Alps | 1 credit
Online Asynchronous, 2nd Block
Required for field program participants. You will receive an Incomplete grade in this section at the end of spring, to be resolved after field program requirements have been completed.
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FIELD PROGRAM
Your journey starts in Innsbruck, Austria, where you'll engage with local experts and experience the Tyrolean mountain culture. From there, you'll explore diverse alpine landscapes across the Dolomites, trekking between traditional mountain huts (rifugi).
Field Experience
2027 Dates TBD
ELIGIBILITY
Open to all UW students.
Application preference is given to students in Haub School and Honors College programs.
PRE-REQUISITES
None.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Application and possible admission interview required. Applications will be reviewed and processed in the order they are received.
PROGRAM FEE TBD $4,500
The program fee is subject to change. Selected applicants will be able to review program fee before confirming participation. Financial assistance available through scholarships.
What's Included lodging, transportation during the program, entrance fees, instruction, excursions, and some meals.
What's Not Included round trip transportation to Europe, most meals (including travel days), UW Education Abroad fee, and UW tuition/fees for spring semester credits.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Haub School Field & Global Scholarship
Award amounts vary based on financial need. Application deadline will be determined by program.
Cheney Global Seminar Scholarship
Competitive application process. Deadlines vary, program participants will receive detailed application instructions.
See other funding opportunities.
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GRANTS
Haub School Research & Creative Activities Grant
Additional research project or creative activity required. Application deadlines: March 15 for summer funding.
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Contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information about other possible financial assistance options and application deadlines.
explore Innsbruck's alpine heritage and mountain culture through guided walking tours; discover Tyrolean traditions and the historical significance of this crossroads city in the heart of the Austrian Alps
conduct field research in the Stubai Valley's high alpine environments; hike to research sites at Kaserstattalm while studying glacial retreat, permafrost dynamics, and ecosystem adaptations to climate change
experience traditional alpine lake ecosystems at Lake Piburg; investigate water resource management and tourism impacts while enjoying optional swimming in pristine mountain waters
study high alpine ecology and glacier dynamics in Obergurgl; ride the Hohe Mut Bahn cable car to examine tourism infrastructure's role in mountain communities and visit the Turm Museum for historical perspectives
hut-to-hut trek through the Italian Dolomites; experience authentic rifugio culture while staying in traditional mountain huts and learning about Alpine hospitality and mountaineering heritage
traverse diverse mountain landscapes from Schlern to Sassolungo massifs; witness UNESCO World Heritage geology while studying how mountain communities adapt to seasonal tourism and climate pressures
engage with local tourism officials and mountain guides in Val Gardena; explore the intersection of recreation, conservation, and economic development in one of Europe's premier alpine destinations
celebrate Ferragosto (Italian national holiday) in traditional Alpine villages; experience local festivals and understand how cultural traditions persist in mountain communities facing modern pressures
This program involves active outdoor experiences requiring good physical fitness.
Participants should be prepared for extended periods of sitting, extensive walking, moderate to strenuous hiking, and some rustic style accommodations.
You'll spend full days outdoors in the diverse environments of the Alps with changing weather conditions, across different ecoregions. Participants should be prepared to carry a pack (30lbs+) and spend full days hiking.
INFO SESSION
Meet course instructors and learn more about the spring course and the field program:
Alpine Climate & Culture Info Session
TBD Fall 2026
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QUESTIONS
Contact Field & Global Program Coordinator:
Melanie Matthews >>> melanie.matthews@uwyo.edu