Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research (OCCR)

Titleimage: Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research (OCCR)

The Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research (OCCR) is a leading institution for climate research, it carries out interdisciplinary research that is at the forefront of climate science. The OCCR brings together researchers from 17 institutes and 5 faculties. It was founded in 2007 and is named after Hans Oeschger (1927-1998), a pioneer of modern climate research.

The OCCR has built up a unique interdisciplinary research environment focusing on climate change, one of the greatest challenges facing humanity. At the interface between physics, geography, biology, chemistry, history, economy, political sciences and philosophy, approximately 330 researchers are investigating the effects of these unprecedented changes on humans and ecosystems.

News

Explanatory video

Unstable North Atlantic circulation?

OCCR researcher Jens Terhaar is the author of a new study on ocean circulation in the North Atlantic. In a video contribution, he explains whether the AMOC has already weakened.

Antarctica

Successful Drilling Campaign

An international team of researchers with significant participation from the Oeschger Centre has drilled a 2,800 metre long and over 1.2 million year old ice core.

New professorship

Climate impact and public health

With support from la Mobilière, the University of Bern has established an endowed professorship to study climate impact and public health in urban and residential areas.

Academic awards

Dies Academicus

Among the prizewinners at this year's Dies Academicus of the University of Bern were two researchers with a strong connection to the OCCR. Congratulations to Sandra Brügger and Lukas Fesenfeld!

People

Oeschger Young Scientist’s Prize

A Climate Scientist with a Broad Perspective

Carole Bouverat graduated as the top student of her year at the Graduate School of Climate Sciences and was awarded the 2024 Oeschger Young Scientist's Prize in recognition of her achievement. Today, she works for a globally active consulting firm.

Oeschger Young Scientist’s Prize

A Successful Shift in Perspective

Anton Braun graduated as the second-best student of his year at the Graduate School of Climate Sciences and was honored with the ‘2024 Oeschger Young Scientist’s Prize’.

Academic career

The skilful networker

Bettina Schaefli developed an early interest in hydrological modelling and has since built an impressive career.

Social tipping points

Juggling dual roles successfully

Economist and philosopher, Philippe Colo, analyses social tipping points. He says that a project like this is only possible in an interdisciplinary environment such as the Oeschger Centre.

Publications

Paper of the month

The modern landscape through a palaeoecological lens

An OCCR research group has published a study in The Science of the Total Environment that shows the traces of historical land use in today's landscape. The publication is based on sedimentary data from northern Greece covering the last 9000 years. Using palaeoecological proxies (pollen, spores, stomata, microscopic charcoal), the researchers were able to reconstruct the long-term dynamics of vegetation and thus evaluate the environmental factors controlling it.

Paper of the month

Heat, humidity and health impacts

An interdisciplinary study by various OCCR members addresses the intricate relationships between heat, humidity and health outcomes.

Paper of the month

600 years of wine must quality and summer temperatures

A study led by OCCR members shows that wine must quality based on expert judgement is suitable for reconstructing past summer temperatures.

Paper of the month

Land use in southern and central Europe

A publication jointly authored by several OCCR researchers uggests comparable dynamics of land use in southern and central Europe during the Neolithic.

Events