“A giant has left us”

Konrad Steffen will be sorely missed by his relatives, colleagues and the scientific community as a whole. Steffen, 68, was the director of the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), the scientific director of the Swiss Polar Institute, and a professor at ETH Zurich and EPFL. His accidental death came while he was on a field mission in Greenland, near the Swiss Camp that he helped set up in 1990. “A giant has left us,” said one of his close colleagues. EPFL President Martin Vetterli stated: “I cannot find the words to describe the sadness I felt on learning of Koni Steffen’s death. He was an outstanding scientist who worked to understand climate change – and a great human being.”

Steffen, who conducted pioneering research into the effects of climate change in extreme environments, was an inspiration for countless scientists. He witnessed firsthand the melting of the Arctic ice cap, where he went every year on field visits. His message for future generations rings out in the video above, which was filmed last year.

EPFL extends its deepest condolences to Konrad Steffen’s family, friends and colleagues.