"No plan but plenty of passion"

Did you find the new subject area very challenging?

Yes and no. Some of my tasks weren't all that different from my previous work. I'd been simulating the movement of glaciers, and I was able to apply the same mechanics to snow, for example to work out the forces exerted by a skier on the snowpack. But apart from that, I didn't really have a clue about snow and avalanches – other than what you learn as a tour guide.

Well, that's certainly changed. Now, 36 years on and nearing retirement, you have a long list of academic publications.

Indeed. I've always enjoyed writing. It's only when you write something down that you realise whether you've really understood it. I love the process of wrestling with words to express exactly what you want to say. Thanks to collaborations and working with PhD students, quite a lot has been achieved over the years. And I'm happy to carry on for a bit longer. I've been appointed as a visiting scientist for the next two years, and I'd still like to write two more academic papers and wrap up a few projects that have been on hold.

Two more? You've already got 157 to your name, which makes you the number one in snow and avalanche research.

That's right, and hopefully not just in terms of quantity. As a joke for my retirement, a colleague calculated that all the pages placed one on top of the other would reach a height of 426 metres. He also totted up the snow profiles that I've dug during my time at the SLF.

What figure did he arrive at?

He made it 897, with a total depth of 1,192 metres. That's roughly the same as the difference in elevation from the summit of the Schiahorn down to Davos. He said I could improve the snow-profile-to-publication ratio even further. That's what I'm doing now [laughing].

Apart from snow itself, what's been the main focus of your work?

The focus has shifted several times over the years. Initially, it was on avalanche forecasting and mechanics; later, it moved to the structure of the snowpack and its variability, and to fracture mechanics and the formation of dry and wet avalanches. In recent years, the emphasis has been on climate change and on avalanche forecasting again, this time using machine learning.

Over time, you also took on management responsibilities.

Indeed, relatively late – not until 2006, as part of the major reorganisation. We all had to reapply for our jobs, and new groups were created, including one called Formation of Alpine Natural Hazards, which I was given the opportunity to set up and lead.

Just five years later, you were head of the SLF.

Once again, I happened to be in the right place at the right time. In 2010, the head of the institute, Jakob Rhyner, asked me if I'd like to join him for lunch. Shortly afterwards, he left the SLF and moved to Bonn. I then applied and got the job. In May 2011, I became head of the Snow Avalanches and Prevention research unit and head of the SLF and so also a member of the WSL Directorate.

Was that a big change?

It was definitely a long learning process. I was travelling more often to WSL's headquarters in Birmensdorf, and spending a lot of time there. That also gave me a real insight into other areas of research. My horizons broadened, and I brought back a few ideas for the SLF to Davos. But the expectations were high, and so was the pressure. Up here in Davos, I'm lucky enough to have nature right on my doorstep. Skiing and mountain tours helped keep me on an even keel and gave me a chance to reflect. But there were quite a few things I had to get used to in my new role.

For example?

I'm someone who's really focused on efficiency. Suddenly I had to attend official functions, where that isn't the main concern. I often found myself wondering in the evenings whether the time I'd invested had been worth it. Did those two minutes of small talk achieve anything, or not? But it is, and will remain, important to give research a human face – and unabashedly proclaim the world-leading status of the Davos research institutes. I hope that the CERC research centre demonstrates just how important that aspect really is.

Could you elaborate?

My two predecessors wanted to establish the SLF as a centre of expertise for other natural hazards, not just avalanches. I thought that was a waste of time, especially as I wasn't really a salesperson; I felt we should focus on our core business.

What changed your mind?

The Canton of Grisons had an innovation strategy initiative. The aim was to establish two flagship centres in Davos: broadly speaking, one that focused on physics (SLF/PMOD) and the other on medicine (AO/SIAF). Time passed, and nothing happened. In January 2019, we finally sat down with two members of the cantonal council and the ETH President. The cantonal council wanted us to put up a CHF 20 million building in the Wolfgang Pass. I said that would be nice, but what we actually lacked funds for, generally speaking, wasn't construction but research. That wasn't exactly the answer the councillors were expecting. We then put together a proposal. In the end, the Canton agreed to provide CHF 2 million annually for 12 years, and ETH established two joint professorships. On the one hand, it was another one of those 'right place at the right time' moments. On the other hand, building trust in the SLF over the previous years had certainly paid off. That doesn't happen by itself, nor does it depend on any one person. Ultimately, all our colleagues contribute to this by delivering excellent service to our customers. And yes, looking back, that small talk may well have been worth it after all.

After more than 15 years, you're stepping down from your management roles at the SLF and retiring, but you'll be staying on at the institute for the time being as a visiting scientist. What will you be doing?

I've always really enjoyed analysing data. That's been neglected in recent years, partly because of my managerial responsibilities. I've actually missed that a bit, and there are now a few pieces of analytical work I'd like to get on with. I've always tried to do things that give me pleasure. It's important to have some fun. I feel privileged that my work has enabled me to do that.

What other plans do you have for the future?

I've never had a grand plan, and I'm confident it will work out fine this time too, even without a plan. I'll just see how things go.