Losing glaciers: A call for emotional engagement and expanded collaboration in research on the ecological crisis

Abstract

This article focuses on one of the most evident aspects of the ongoing climate crisis: the quick reduction or loss of glacier masses in different areas of the planet. In this context we call for the pertinence and relevance of emotional engagement and expanded collaboration in research on ecological issues. Integrating disciplinary perspectives on glaciers, drawn from the environmental sciences, the environmental humanities, and forensic archeology, this article explores shared concerns with the loss and change of crucially important glacier ecosystems, and erosion of the imagination, cultural identity, and emotional connections linked to these natural phenomena. Awareness of loss, however, is argued here as critical to engendering engagement with emotions – in research, scientific dissemination efforts, and among the public at large. This, coupled with expanded collaboration (i.e. an interdisciplinary and intersectoral collaboration), may contribute to the development of more impactful scientific research and communication on ecological topics relevant to broader human-environment challenges.