Five researchers from the group contributed to the conference by presenting the outcomes of their ongoing research projects. Rabindra Adhikari delivered an oral presentation highlighting key findings of his project, while Snježana Pejdanović presented her work in the PICO session format. In addition, Pegah Khosravani, Hadi Shokati, and Madhavi Parajuli presented their research through scientific posters.

Their participation provided an excellent opportunity to disseminate recent research findings, engage in interdisciplinary scientific discussions, and strengthen international academic collaboration. The conference also served as a valuable platform for networking and exchanging ideas with researchers and experts working across the global geosciences community.

Further details about the event can be found here:

• https://www.bgr.bund.de/SharedDocs/Newsletter/DE/2026/Anrisse/nl01-2026-11_dbg_100.html

• https://www.dbges.de/de/100-jahre-dbg

According to her, the trip aimed to perform field activities and gather soil samples in one of the most unique and challenging natural environments on Earth.

Pegah expressed her gratitude to her academic supervisors, stating that the support of Professor Thomas Scholten and Professor Dirk Wagner was crucial in making this exploratory trip possible. Additionally, the equipment required for sampling and laboratory work was provided by the University of Tübingen and GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, to which she extended her sincere thanks.

She also thanked the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) for providing specialized clothing and equipment suitable for the extreme Antarctic conditions, noting: “The professional equipment provided by AWI played a key role in the success of our field operations under harsh climatic conditions.”

Pegah further highlighted the substantial support of INACH Chilean Antarctic Institute, stating that from the beginning to the end of the mission, the professional INACH team in Chile offered substantial assistance and created excellent conditions at the Chilean research station for conducting this project. She also expressed her gratitude to Pablo Espinoza, the head of the Chilean station, and his team for establishing a professional environment conducive to scientific research.

During this research expedition, Pegah Khosravani and Florian Carlo Ficher were joined by other researchers, including Dr. Silvia Simonetti from the University of Siena, Italy; Prof. Dr. Javier Correa Álvarez from Universidad EAFIT, Colombia; and Prof. Dr. Mario H. Londoño-Mesa from the University of Antioquia, Colombia, as well as colleagues and researchers from Chile, Guatemala, Ecuador, and Brazil. This international group of scientists, photographers, journalists, and researchers each contributed to the study and sample collection in the unique Antarctic environment. She sincerely thanks all of them for their invaluable support, collaboration, and contributions throughout this expedition.

Pegah and her colleague, Florian Carlo Ficher, focused on investigating soil formation processes under Antarctic climatic conditions and successfully collected the samples and data required for their project.

The results of this research are expected to significantly enhance our understanding of soil formation processes under extreme climatic conditions and contribute to studies related to climate change.

The program commenced with a warm welcome from the Dean of IOF, Prof. Thakur Silwal, followed by a cinematic overview of the Institute’s growing portfolio of forestry education in Nepal, current programs, research projects, and research collaborations with different Universities around the globe. The technical core of the morning was Prof. Scholten’s 40-minute presentation, which bridged the gap between soil science and climate dynamics in treeline ecotones in the Himalaya.

Drawing from over a decade of research in Nepal through the TREELINE-I and TREELINE-II projects, Prof. Scholten shared compelling findings regarding the Rolwaling Valley. Notably, he highlighted that while the treeline position in the Rolwalling region appears relatively stable, soil temperatures are significantly higher than the global average. His research emphasizes how specific soil properties act as a critical regulator for tree growth and the overall shift of ecotone boundaries in response to global warming.

The event saw robust participation from the heads and faculties of the Central Departments of Geography, Botany, RECAST, alongside PhD candidates, post-doctoral fellows, and representatives from various organizations. The session concluded with reflections from Prof. Ram Chaudhary, Nepal Coordinator for TREELINE-II, who traced the history of this fruitful TREELINE research partnership. The formal proceedings gave way to vibrant informal discussions on the IOF premises, underscoring the vital role of integrated research data collection and analysis in protecting the fragile Himalayan treeline ecosystem under climate warming.

Following the successful session in Kathmandu, Prof. Scholten traveled to the Pokhara Campus for an evening academic interaction meeting with Campus Chief Dr. Narayan Gautam and various department heads. During this visit, Prof. Scholten was briefed on the campus’s specialized facilities including its soil and plant laboratories, the operational plant nursery and academic programs that are being run on Pokhara campus.

In the February 2026 issue of ÖKO-TEST (available since late January 2026), soil expert Prof. Dr. Thomas Scholten explains the causes of increasing soil salinization (e.g., intensive fertilization, irrigation, climate change), its environmental and agricultural consequences, and why this under-discussed issue threatens soil fertility, water quality, and food security worldwide.

The issue's main theme is salt consumption, with this interview highlighting the parallel problem in soils.

Read more about the issue and purchase (print or digital): → https://www.oekotest.de/hefte/Magazin-Februar-2026-Salz_M2602.html

In collaboration with the Hector Kinderakademien and the Soil Science and Geomorphology Group at the University of Tübingen, the course "An die Schaufeln, fertig, los!" (Shovels ready, go!) was developed for gifted primary school children. In this Soilcast podcast episode (published December 23, 2025), host Christoph speaks with Jennifer Raffler (Hector Institute), Prof. Dr. Thomas Scholten, and PD Dr. Steffen Seitz about combining soil science, gifted education, and citizen science. The children actively collect real research data, including the Tea-Bag-Index, which contributes directly to studies on soil health, organic matter decomposition, and climate impacts on carbon storage.

The project demonstrates why children are outstanding young scientists: their curiosity, drive to explore, and insightful questions add unique value to soil research.

Listen to the full interview (45 minutes): → https://soilcast.de/interview/sc175-interview-an-die-schaufeln-fertig-los/

More information on the Hector Kinderakademien: → https://hector-kinderakademie.de

Download the full interview PDF: →Hector-Kinderakademie_Interview_Citizen-Science.pdf