Dr. Astrid Björnsen

Scientific Interests 

Energy Transition, Global Change in Mountain Regions, Development of Scientific Networks, Strategy and Project Development, Knowledge and Information Management, Knowledge and Technology Transfer, Synthesis Works and Visualizations.

Education and Work Experience 

2023-present: Project Manager "Impact of Climate Change on Ecosystem Services", NCCS-Impact

2020-present: Co-Head Research program Extremes, Office of the Director WSL

2014-2020: Leiterin Forschungsprogramm Energy Change Impact WSL Birmensdorf

2017: CAS Leadership in Science FHNW

Since 2014: Programm Coordinator Energy Change Impact WSL

2012-2014: Science Officer WSL for NRP 61 „Sustainable Water Management“

2012: Science Officer Mountain Research and Development (MRD), CDE, Bern University 

2011-2014: Program Coordinator Swiss-Austrian Alliance for Mountain Research, Bern 

2007-2014: Program Coordinator MRI-Europe

2003–2005: Scientific Coordinator GLOCHAMORE (EU FP6; MRI) 

2003-2014: Science Officer Mountain Research Initiative (MRI), Bern 

1998–2002: PhD on "Indigenous Knowledge on Storage Pest Management in Nepal", ETH Zurich and ICIMOD, Nepal. 

1997–1998: Evaluation und Monitoring „Farmer Field Schools“, CIP Indonesia 

1997: Module development for Integrated Pest Management, SDC Nepal 

1996–1998: MSc for Developing Countries (NADEL), ETH Zurich 

1996: Pre-Study on "Local Knowledge on Pest Management in Nepal", ICIMOD/NARC/SDC, Nepal 

1993–1994: Internship on „Biodiversity of Insects“, IUCN Nepal 

1990–1995: MSc Environmental Sciences, ETH Zurich 

1989–1990: Zurich University of the Arts 

Other Activities

Advisory Board Member SCCER BIOSWEET

Member International Editorial Board Mountain Research & Development

Member Scientific Steering Committee Science for the Carpathians S4C

Publications (since 2009)

Björnsen Gurung A, Borsdorf A, Füreder L, Kienast F, Matt P, Scheidegger C, Schmocker L, Zappa M, Volkart K (2016). Rethinking Pumped Storage Hydropower in the European Alps. Mountain Research and Development 36(2):222-232. Link<br/>

Björnsen Gurung A, Borsdorf A, Füreder L, Kienast F, Matt P, Scheidegger C, Schmocker L, Zappa M, Volkart K (2016). Alpine Pumpspeicherung – Quo vadis? Wasser Energie Luft 108:195-201. PDF

Björnsen Gurung A., Stähli M. (2014). Wasserressourcen der Schweiz. Dargebot und Nutzung - heute und morgen. Thematische Synthese 1 im Rahmen des Nationalen Forschungsprogramms NFP 61 "Nachhaltige Wassernutzung", Bern. (PDF, 8 MB)

Björnsen Gurung, A. (2013). Science for the Carpathians: Using regional capacity to cope with Global Change. Contribution to the Conference Proceedings of the Forum Carpaticum 2010 in Krakow, Poland. Springer, Dortrecht. pp.13-21.

Björnsen Gurung A., Wymann von Dach S., Price MF, Aspinall R, Balsiger J, Baron JS, Sharma E, Greenwood G, Kohler Th. (2012). Global Change and the World’s Mountains: Research needs and emerging themes for sustainable development - Synthesis from the Perth II Conference 2010. Mountain Research and Development 32(S1):S47-S54.

Kozak J. and Björnsen Gurung A. (eds) (2011). Research Agenda for the Carpathians. Krakow.

Björnsen Gurung, A. (2011). Научные сети по исследованию глобальных изменений в горных регионах: дополнительная ценность или потеря времени? Устойчивое развитие горных территорий  1(7): 118–121. (Science Networks for Global Change Research in Mountain Regions: Added value or waste of time? Sustainable Development of Mountain Territories 1(7). In Russisch)

Björnsen Gurung, A. (2011). Science Networks for Global Change in Mountain Regions: The Mountain Research Initiative. In: Georgi Zhelezov (ed.), Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions: Southeastern Europe. Springer, Dordrecht, 281-287. ISBN: 978-94-007-0130-4

Ostapowicz K., Björnsen Gurung A. et al. (2010). Integrating nature and society towards sustainability – current status of global change research in the Carpathian Mountains. Extended abstract, Perth Conference (27–30 September 2010).

Björnsen Gurung, A. (2010). Alpine Knowledge Gardening: Research Network for the advancement of science and development. In: Borsdorf, A., G. Grabherr, K. Heinrich, B. Scott and J. Stötter (eds.): Challenges for Mountain Regions – Tackling Complexity. Vienna: Böhlau.

Björnsen Gurung, A., Bokwa A., Chełmicki W., Elbakidze M., Hirschmugl M., Hostert P., Ibisch P., Kozak J. , Kuemmerle T., Matei E., Ostapowicz K., Pociask-Karteczka J., Schmidt L., van der Linden S., and Zebisch M. (2009). Global Change Research in the Carpathian Mountain Region. Mountain Research and Development 28 (3): 282–288.

Björnsen Gurung A., Baron J., Böhni R., Braun V., Clivaz Ch., de Jong C., Drexler C., Erzinger P., Gantner U., Greenwood G., Rigling A., Schulz T., Wiesmann U. (2009). Interdisciplinarity in Mountain Research: Analysis of the potentials and challenges based on case studies. Proceedings of the Conference on „Gebirgsforschung Schweiz“, ICAS, Berne.