New head of the WSL branch station in Sion

Engineer and mountain guide Pierre Huguenin succeeds François Dufour as head of station.

For many years the canton of Valais has been a key partner in the research activities and services of the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL and the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF in connection with avalanches, debris flows, rockfalls, forestry issues and climate change. As a mountainous region, Valais is directly impacted by natural hazards and the consequences of climate change. The SLF therefore established a branch station in Sion back in the mid-1990s. In September this year the canton of Valais and the WSL signed a new outline agreement with a view to reinforcing and developing their collaboration in research and practice.

Since November 2016, engineer and mountain guide Dr. Pierre Huguenin has been serving as new head of the branch station in Sion. The WSL has thereby appointed an experienced specialist with a keen understanding of the interface of research and practice, who also possesses a wealth of knowledge in the disciplines of engineering, safety and alpinism. Pierre Huguenin studied at the EPFL, where he was awarded his doctorate, before working for twelve years as an engineer and project leader with various organizations and companies, including MeteoSwiss and, most recently, Holcim. As a mountain guide he was co-founder of the agency Aventures Alpines, which has offices in Geneva and Lausanne. For four years he was head guide of the freeride competition, Xtreme de Verbier, and responsible for the safety of both the competitors and other visitors to the event. Between 2008 and 2012 he also served as secretary and vice-president of the mountain guides' association for French-speaking Switzerland.

Pierre Huguenin is now following in the footsteps of François Dufour, who will be retiring soon. François Dufour was instrumental in establishing the branch station and played a major role in setting up and operating the renowned avalanche dynamics test site in Vallée de la Sionne (Arbaz district). He also supervised facilities investigating other natural hazards – debris flows in the Illgraben catchment zone, rockfall processes in St. Léonard – and regularly informed the public about the current avalanche situation through the media.

As new head of the WSL branch station, Pierre Huguenin will now assume these responsibilities. He will also be fostering the research work of the WSL in Valais in the fields of energy, drought, forestry issues, biodiversity and the landscape. With immediate effect he is the point of contact for public authorities, practitioners, the media and the general public on all matters concerning the research disciplines of the WSL and SLF, in particular concerning avalanches and avalanche prevention.