16th DACH Permafrost Conference
21–24 January 2026 | HVHS am Seddiner See, near Potsdam, Germany
We are pleased to invite you to the 16th DACH Permafrost Conference, taking place from 21 to 24 January 2026 at the HVHS am Seddiner See, a lakeside education and conference center near Potsdam, Germany.
This international conference is the central forum of the DACH Permafrost Union, a permanent working group of the German Society for Polar Research (DGP), brings together researchers from the DACH countries – Germany (D), Austria (A), and Switzerland (CH) – and beyond, who work on polar and mountain permafrost. The event provides a central platform for scientific exchange across disciplines and career stages, from students and early-career researchers to senior scientists.
Conference Background
The DACH Permafrost Conference began 17 years ago as a meeting for German-speaking permafrost researchers and has since evolved into a fully international, English-language conference. It attracts permafrost enthusiast from across Europe, but also beyond like North America, and has become a key event for strengthening collaboration in this critical field of climate science.
The conference supports coordination across national and international research projects and also serves as a strategic forum in preparation for future scientific efforts.
Scientific Focus
The scientific program addresses permafrost research in polar and alpine regions, covering fundamental and applied topics, such as:
- Permafrost thaw and greenhouse gas emissions
- Geohazards and infrastructure stability
- Ecosystem and carbon cycle feedbacks
- New monitoring methods and modeling approaches
- Community engagement and co-produced knowledge
The conference language is English.
The program includes:
- Keynote lectures by internationally renowned researchers
- Oral and poster presentations
- Dedicated sessions for early-stage project ideas or scientific challenges
- Workshops, and networking events
- Poster and presentation awards for early-career researchers
Oral presentations
Please bring your presentation on a USB stick, saved in a format compatible with our Windows presentation laptop (PowerPoint or PDF recommended).
Presentations should be handed over to the organizing team as soon as possible, but no later than during the break immediately before your session, to ensure a smooth technical setup. Please keep the time limitations (15 min) and reserve a few minutes for questions.
Poster presentations
Posters - printed in A0, portrait format - can be installed (at any poster wall which is free in the conference hall) already on Wednesday evening before the icebreaker, and must be in place at least before the first poster session.
Posters will be displayed throughout the entire conference and should be taken down on Friday before lunch.
In addition to the exciting and permafrost-cool scientific programme, we have planned a range of social and informal activities. Here is what you can look forward to - and what you might want to prepare for:
Morning Yoga Wake-up (Thursday & Friday, 7:00 AM)
Start your day refreshed and balanced with a 45-minute yoga session led by teacher Alex. It may feel early, but it’s worth it! Please bring comfortable clothing and, if possible, a soft pad or yoga mat (a limited number of mats will be available).
Please note: Room capacity is limited to 20 participants; sessions are first come, first served.
Campfire (Thursday after dinner)
Winter Networking Hike (Friday after lunch)
Local Excursion (Saturday)
Please pack warm, weatherproof clothing and sturdy shoes suitable for cold and wet conditions. The approximately 1.5-hour hike through Brandenburg’s forests and the Saturday excursion (approx. 4.5 hours) may be wintery/muddy.
If you would like to prepare in advance for the excursion, please consult the attached PDF, in which Bernhard Diekmann, our tour guide (and AWI Potsdam Research Unit head), has compiled relevant background information. The excursion will focus on the Quaternary and ice age history of the region and will visit selected sites described in this document (not all of them).
Informal Expedition Reports (Friday after dinner)
In keeping with tradition, we will close Friday evening by sharing personal fieldwork highlights. Whether mountains, tundra, or elsewhere - please feel invited to bring a USB drive with a selection of photos for an informal photo show. Short anecdotes and stories are very welcome!
Abstract submission and registration are now open:
https://events.hifis.net/e/permafrost
Accommodation and full board (meals and refreshments) at the conference venue will be included in the conference fee. Room capacities are limited, so all participants will be accommodated on-site. Prices for regular and student fees will be announced in due course, pending current funding and sponsorship arrangements.
Registration & Submission Deadline: 15.11.2025
Google Maps link → https://maps.app.goo.gl/uwGJSt7VuqPYhdAo7
Wednesday (21 Jan):
- registration (from early afternoon)
- Young Researchers Workshop
- Icebreaker reception
Thursday & Friday (22–23 Jan):
- Oral sessions, posters, networking events, keynote lectures
Saturday (24 Jan):
- Field excursions in the Potsdam region
The conference is supported by and actively connected with several international networks:
- International Permafrost Association (IPA)
- Global Terrestrial Network for Permafrost (GTN-P)
- Permafrost Young Researchers Network (PYRN)
- Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS)
Conference Chair
- Dr. Jens Strauss
Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI)
Jens.Strauss@awi.de
Scientific Program Committee
- Prof. Dr. Guido Grosse
AWI & University of Potsdam (UP) – AWI and UP liaison
guido.grosse@awi.de
- Prof. Dr. Susanne Liebner
GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) & University of Potsdam – GFZ and UP liaison
susanne.liebner@gfz.de
- Prof. Dr. Carsten W. Müller
Technische Universität (TU) Berlin – TU Berlin liaison
carsten.werner.mueller@tu-berlin.de
- Dr. Lutz Schirrmeister
AWI – Liaison to the German Society for Polar Research (DGP)
lutz.schirrmeister@awi.de
- Dr. Carolina Voigt
AWI & Universität Hamburg (UHH) – UHH liaison
carolina.voigt@awi.de
Workshops & Young Researchers
- Dr. Anna Maria Irrgang
AWI – Pre-Conference Workshop Coordination
anna.irrgang@awi.de
- Dr. Maren Jenrich
AWI – Young Researcher Workshop, Coordination of Oral and Poster Awards
maren.jenrich@awi.de
- Fabian Seemann
AWI & University of Potsdam – Young Researcher Workshop, Liaison to APECS & PYRN
fabian.seemann@awi.de
- Saskia Eppinger
TU München – Young Researcher Workshop, Coordination of Oral and Poster Awards, Liaison to PYRN
saskia.eppinger@tum.de
Conference Proceedings & Website
- Dr. Michael Fritz
AWI – Conference Proceedings Coordination
michael.fritz@awi.de
- Sebastian Laboor
AWI – Website and Conference Proceedings
sebastian.laboor@awi.de
Social Program and Outreach
- Dr. Josefine Lenz
AWI – Social Program and Outreach
josefine.lenz@awi.de
International & Local Coordination
- Dr. Anne Morgenstern
AWI – International Affairs, Coordination of Oral and Poster Awards
anne.morgenstern@awi.de
- Melanie Reinhardt
AWI – Registration, Budget, and Liaison to Municipality of Seddiner See
melanie.reinhardt@awi.de
International Scientific Advisory Board
The scientific quality and international visibility of the conference are supported by a dedicated advisory board, led by:
- Dr. Ingo Hartmeyer – GeoResearch, Austria
- Dr. Samuel Weber – WSL, Switzerland
The board advises on the scientific program and award selection process.
Location: Telegrafenberg Science Park, AWI Potsdam
Three seminar rooms (30 seats each) will be available free of charge for workshops and project meetings.
For room bookings or questions, contact:
anna.irrgang@awi.de
The DACH Permafrost Conference is committed to creating an inclusive and environmentally responsible event:
- Climate-friendly travel is encouraged via public transport and a planned shuttle service from nearby train stations
- Paperless conference management: digital program and proceedings
- Locally sourced catering with vegetarian/vegan options
- Equal representation of all genders, backgrounds, and career stages in the organizing team, speaker selection, and program design
Contact:
Program Overview
The main conference will take place from 21–24 January 2026.
The final conference schedule, including talk and poster slots, is now fixed:
