Prof. Dr. Marcus Nüsser
Professor of Geography at the South Asia Institute at Heidelberg University, HCE member since 2011
My research focuses primarily on changes in the cryosphere in high-altitude mountain regions, particularly in the Himalayas. In addition to the retreat of glaciers and permafrost, the use of meltwater within the context of local land-use systems and adaptation measures plays an important role in my work. To address these topics in an integrated manner at the intersection of environmental change, environmental risks, and societal coping strategies, I draw on a socio-hydrological analytical framework.
Why I joined the HCE
I joined the HCE when it was founded in 2011. As a geographer with a keen interest in human-environment relationships, becoming a member was a natural choice even back then. The transition to a central research institution at the university was also expected to provide even greater opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration.
My highlights so far
Personally, I was particularly pleased with two achievements during my tenure. One was the establishment of the early-career research group “Environment and Health in Arid Regions,” which my former colleague Dr. Juliane Dame successfully secured funding for in 2013. I was also delighted by the 2024 Environmental Award from the Viktor & Sigrid Dulger Foundation, which my former colleague Dr. Dagmar Brombierstäudl received for her dissertation on the formation, distribution, and use of glacial meltwater in the Trans-Himalayas of Ladakh.
My key partners
As part of a joint fellowship at the Marsilius-Kolleg on the topic of “Dangerous and Endangered Landscapes,” I engaged in the closest academic collaboration with Jale Tosun and Marcus Koch.