Leh, Jun 28: In a move toward addressing the escalating climate crisis in the Himalayas, the Leh Indian Glaciology Summer School (LIGSS) 2025 concluded today after a rigorous two-week session focused on the theme “Climate and Glaciology”. Held from June 16–29 in the high-altitude environment of Leh, Ladakh, the program has been hailed as a pioneering initiative to train the next generation of glaciologists equipped to tackle the growing challenges of climate change and glacier retreat in South Asia.
LIGSS-2025 brought together over 19 selected participants, drawn from a competitive pool of 390 applicants representing more than 250 Indian institutions and countries like Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan. The program was designed for young and upcoming glaciologists, including bachelor’s, master’s, PhD students, and early-career researchers, with the goal of building interdisciplinary expertise in climate science and cryosphere studies.
The curriculum featured a powerful blend of 12 expert-led lectures, hands-on computer tutorials, interactive evening seminars, a field excursion to Khardung Glacier, and collaborative group projects. Participants engaged with real-world climate and glaciological data using advanced tools such as remote sensing, reanalysis datasets, and climate modeling, to better understand glacial mass balance, regional hydrology, and the downstream impacts on ecosystems and populations.
The distinguished faculty included renowned scientists such as Dr. Saurabh Vijay (IIT Roorkee), Dr. Argha Banerjee (IISER Pune), Dr. Pankaj Kumar (IISER Bhopal), Prof. Edward Hanna (University of Lincoln, UK), Dr. Emily Collier and Dr. Lilian Schuster (University of Innsbruck, Austria), and Dr. Bedartha Goswami (IISER Pune).
The program also featured talks by eminent personalities including Everest climber and motivational speaker Dr. Toolika Rani, Annapurna survivor Anurag Maloo, Dr. Pascal Egli (NTNU, Norway), and glacier-focused entrepreneurs like Dr. Suryanarayan Balasubramanian, co-founder of Acres of Ice. Dr. Purushottam Garg and Dr. Sandipan Mukherjee from GB Pant National Institute for Himalayan Environment, Ladakh also visited the school and shared their expertise with the participants.
LIGSS is inspired by global models like the Alaska Glaciology School and Karthaus Summer School, but tailored to meet the urgent and unique challenges facing the Himalayan region. It was jointly sponsored by the Sai Ashraya Trust and the International Glaciological Society, with a vision to be held annually, each year spotlighting a new theme crucial to Himalayan glacier science.
Jay Arora from Sai Ashraya Trust supported this initiative of training the next generation of scientists in the field of glaciology, who will carry out world class research on Himalayan glaciers improve our understanding and helping the community.
LIGSS aims to build not just scientific capacity, but also lasting networks of collaboration across borders. By integrating mentorship, fieldwork, and cutting-edge research, the program hopes to create a generation of researchers prepared to respond to climate-driven cryospheric changes and inform future policies for sustainable development in fragile mountain ecosystems.
With its resounding success, LIGSS 2025 has not only positioned Leh as a new hub for glaciological education and research but also sent a powerful message—South Asia is rising to meet the climate challenge in its own backyard.
