SnowAI – AI for Snow in a Changing Climate
SnowAI develops new ways to map and predict snow depth and Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) in Western Norway using Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI). The project combines dense time series of optical and radar satellite images with meteorological data, snow pits, UAV surveys and an Internet-of-Things sensor network. By training deep-learning models on these data, SnowAI will deliver weekly, 10 m resolution maps of snow depth and snowpack properties that capture how snow varies across complex mountain terrain. These products will be used with partners in hydropower, avalanche forecasting, ecology and winter tourism to understand how changing snow conditions affect water resources, infrastructure, ecosystems and outdoor activities, and to support adaptation planning in a warming climate.
CO-INVENT – A Collaborative Study of Cryo-Climatology in the Glaciated Himalayan Region
CO-INVENT is a joint initiative between the University of Bergen, and the Indian universities of IIT Roorkee and Jawaharlal Nehru University. It is designed to build long-term research and education collaboration on the Himalayan cryosphere with an emphasis on student and staff collaboration. The project has a focus on integrating satellite remote sensing, machine learning and process-based modelling with field observations to map glaciers, snow, permafrost and related hazards across the Indian Himalaya through both research collaboration but also student theses and summer schools.
Alongside the scientific work, CO-INVENT places strong emphasis on training and capacity building. The project develops shared teaching modules on remote sensing and AI for cryosphere studies, organises winter and summer schools in India and Norway, and supports two-way mobility for MSc and PhD students. The aim is to co-produce new knowledge on cryospheric change and its consequences for water resources and hazards, while equipping a new generation of Indian and Norwegian
Montage: Mountain Heritage and Governance for Climate-Resilient Communities
Led by the University of the Highlands and Islands (Scotland), Rosalind Bryce, with partners from the University of Bergen (Norway), Inger Måren, and Samriddha Pahad (Nepal), Montage represents a new step in linking culture, climate, and governance for sustainable mountain futures.
Montage is an international partnership connecting mountain regions in Nepal, Scotland, and Norway to explore how cultural heritage can strengthen community resilience in the face of climate change. The project focuses on mountain areas — among the most climate-vulnerable ecosystems on Earth — and examines how cultural traditions, livelihoods, and governance systems can support adaptation and sustainability.
Montage explores how transitions in mountains are reshaping the cultural connections between people and the land on which they live and work. We start from the premise that cultural heritage is fundamental for maintaining identity, cohesion and resilience in communities experiencing socio-ecological change. The cultural diversity of mountain regions reflects their topographic complexity, with livelihoods, food production and environmental management closely connected to the biophysical environment. Cultural heritage is generally an overlooked aspect of climate change policy and Montage intends to establish a partnership which will strengthen its integration into national and international climate frameworks. We recognise the critical role of governance structures that support and empower communities, and their participation in climate change discourse and action; Montage will focus on both community-based cultural heritage and the ways in which local, regional and international institutions engage with this.
Working across UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in Europe and the Kangchenjunga Conservation Area (KCA) in Nepal, Montage will gather and share community knowledge on heritage and environmental change. The project aims to inform the nomination of Nepal’s first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, building global connections for mountain stewardship. Kangchenjunga is the world’s third highest mountain, and this mountain region is situated in Eastern Nepal as part of one of the world’s 34 biodiversity hotspots.
Through workshops, field research, and transnational dialouge, Montage will: 1) Strengthen partnerships between communities, researchers, and policymakers to strengthen biosphere stewardship. 2) Document cultural heritage and its role in climate adaptation. 3) Develop ethical research approaches for inclusive, community-led governance. 4) Create recommendations for integrating cultural heritage into climate policy.