Bruno Messerli(17 September 1931, in Belp – 4 February 2019)[3]was aSwissgeographeranduniversity professorwho focused on high mountains and highland-lowland linkages.[4]He was appointed Full Professor ofGeomorphologyin 1968 by theUniversity of Bern,[5]where he taught and carried out research until his retirement in 1996.[6]He contributed significantly to the inclusion of a mountain agenda,Chapter 13 — Managing Fragile Ecosystems — Sustainable Mountain DevelopmentinAgenda 21,the official action plan of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development(UNCED), also known as theRio de Janeiro Earth Summit,theRio Summit,theRio Conference,and theEarth Summit,held inRio de Janeirofrom 3 to 14 June in 1992.[7][4]
Bruno Messerli | |
|---|---|
 Messerli in 1986 | |
| Born | 17 September 1931 Belp, Canton of Bern,Switzerland |
| Died | 4 February 2019(aged 87) |
| Spouse | Beatrice |
| Awards |
|
| Academic background | |
| Education | Ph.D. |
| Influences | Carl Troll[1] |
| Academic work | |
| Discipline | Geography |
| Notable works |
|
| Notable ideas | Debunking of so-called Theory of Himalayan Environmental Degradation; Himalayan Uncertainty, from macro to micro levels;[2]global prioritization of montological issues |
Education
editBruno Messerli completed his doctorate at the University of Bern in 1962.[2]His doctoral research concerned the geomorphology of theSierra NevadainAndalusia,Spain.[1]His post-doctoralHabilitation thesisconcernedQuaternary glaciationof mountain ranges around the Mediterranean basin.[1]
Career
editDr. Messerli became a full professor of geography at the University of Bern in 1968.[2]From 1978 to 1983 he served as Director of the Institute of Geography, and as Rector of the university from 1986 to 1987. In 1996 he became Professor Emeritus.[2][1]Messerli was as President of theInternational Geographical Union(IGU) from 1996 to 2000.[1]From 1996 to 2001 he served as Co-Director of theInternational Geosphere-Biosphere Programme’s project on Past Global Changes (PAGES), founded by Messerli's friend and colleague at the University of Bern,Hans Oeschger.[1]
Messerli worked on theUnited Nations University'sHimalayan Highland-Lowland Interactive Projecttogether with ProfessorJack D. Ives.He was a principal founder ofInternational Centre for Integrated Mountain Development(ICIMOD), a intergovernmental agency located in Kathmandu, Nepal, and dedicated to interdisciplinary research on mountain systems.[2]With Jack Ives, also, Messerli was one of the handful of montologists advocating for the Mountain Agenda in the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development (Chapter 13 in Agenda 21:Managing Fragile Ecosystems: Sustainable Mountain Development). He was a founder of theInternational Centre for Integrated Mountain Development(ICIMOD) in Nepal and of theMountain Research Initiative(MRI), based in Switzerland. He had a long collaboration with the UN'sFood and Agriculture Organization(FAO), which supervises the Mountain Agenda.[1]
Awards
edit
- 1988:Global 500 Roll of Honourof theUnited Nations Environment Programme(UNEP)[6]
- 1990:Marcel Benoist Prize[2]
- 2002:Vautrin Lud Prize
- 2002:King Albert IGold Medal[8]
- 2002:Founder's Medalof the Royal Geographical Society
- 2002: FAO - Medal for the UN - International Year of Mountains, Global Mountain Summit in Bishkek, Kyrghyzstan[2]
Works
edit- with H. Oeschger and M. Svilar (ed.): Das Klima—Analysen und Modelle Geschichte und Zukunft. [Climate: Analysis and Models, History and Future] Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1980. Springer-Verlag.
- withJD Ives(ed.):Mountain Ecosystems, Stability and Instability.Spec. Publ. IGU Congress Paris - Alps 1984. Mountain Research and Development
- with E. Brugger, G. Furrer and P. Messerli (ed.):Upheaval in the mountain area. The development of the Swiss mountain area between independence and dependence from an economic and ecological point of view.Main publishing house, Berne 1984.
- withJD Ives:The Himalayan Dilemma: Reconciling Development and Conservation,London and NY: Routledge, 1989,ISBN0-415-01157-4
- withJD IvesMountains of the World: A Global Priority,London and NY: Parthenon, 1997,ISBN1-85070-781-2
- with T. Hofer:Floods in Bangladesh. History, Dynamics and Rethinking the Role of the Himalayas.United Nations University Press, Tokyo / New York 2006.
References
edit- ^abcdefgBradley, Ray; Grosjean, Martin; Stocker, Thomas; Wanner, Heinz (21 February 2019)."Professor Bruno Messerli, 1931-2019".Mountain Research Initiative.Mountain Research Initiative.Retrieved10 April2020.
- ^abcdefgSingh, RB (11 February 2019)."The passing of a great geographer: former IGU President Bruno Messerli".IGU-Online.International Geographical Union.Retrieved10 April2020.
- ^"Obituary".todesanzeigenportal.ch.Archived fromthe originalon 2019-12-13.Retrieved2019-02-09.
- ^ab"Mountain Research and Development".Diamont.22.Bio One: 80. 2002.doi:10.1659/0276-4741(2002)022[0080:RDBPBM]2.0.CO;2.ISSN0276-4741.S2CID131350588.
- ^"Institute of Geography".Institute of Geography. Archived fromthe originalon 9 February 2019.Retrieved5 February2018.
- ^ab"Albert Mountain Awards".King Albert.Retrieved5 February2018.
- ^"Dr. Bruno Messerli, Universitat Bern".Global 500 Environmental Forum. Archived fromthe originalon 24 August 2013.Retrieved5 February2018.
- ^"Lorenz Bäumer dans une nouvelle dimension".Lefigaro. 2014-09-18.Retrieved5 February2018.