In November 2025, the GEF–UNDP–UNESCO Cryosphere Project presented the Glacier Lifelines virtual reality experience, developed by the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), to partners across Central Asia.

The VR experience takes users through four interactive chapters – irrigation, hydropower, glacier monitoring, and disaster risk reduction – illustrating the role of glaciers in Central Asia’s water systems and the impacts of climate change. It has been designed as an educational tool that helps visualize scientific information in an accessible and engaging format.

National partners from five universities and research institutes took part in the introductory VR training. Participants learned how to operate and maintain the VR headsets and how to integrate the tool into education, outreach, and public events.

Following the training, each partner institution is now receiving a set of VR headsets. Partners in Tajikistan have already received their sets, and the remaining countries will receive them shortly. Beginning next year, the institutions plan to showcase the Glacier Lifelines experience at academic events, youth activities, and public awareness campaigns in their respective countries.

The VR sets have been provided to:

  • Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Kazakhstan (Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences)

  • Kyrgyz National University named after Jusup Balasagyn, Kyrgyzstan (Faculty of Geography, Ecology and Tourism)

  • National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan (Center for Research of Glaciers)

  • Turkmen Agricultural University named after S A Niyazov, Turkmenistan

  • Mirzo Ulugbek National University of Uzbekistan, Department of Land Hydrology and Meteorology

If you are interested in future events featuring the Glacier Lifelines experience may contact the national focal points:

  • Kazakhstan: Zhanar Raimbekova, zhanar.raimbekova@kaznu.edu.kz 

  • Kyrgyzstan: Dr. Oktiabr Topbaev, topbaev@list.ru

  • Tajikistan: Khusrav Kabutov, kabutov.khusrav@gmail.com 

  • Turkmenistan: Turkmen Agricultural University named after S A Niyazov

  • Uzbekistan: Oyjamol Xoltojiyeva, oyjamolxoltojiyeva@gmail.com 

More information on the scientific background and story behind the Glacier Lifelines experience is available on the Knowledge Hub: glacier-lifelines.cryosphereca.org

The development of the VR experience and its distribution to partner universities were carried out within the framework of the Cryosphere Project “Strengthening the Resilience of Central Asian Countries by Enabling Regional Cooperation to Assess Glacio-nival Systems to Develop Integrated Methods for Sustainable Development and Adaptation to Climate Change”, financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through UNDP and executed by the UNESCO Regional Office in Almaty.