My name is Lena Müller. I am an ecologist and a climber.
Inspiration
I grew up surrounded by mountains in the Allgäu region in Germany, where I spent most of my childhood with outdoor sports: climbing, kayaking, slacklining, ski touring and cross-country skiing. Climbing evolved into a deep passion, where I eventually became the first German woman to climb E9 trad.
Currently, I am doing my doctorate at the University of Innsbruck, where I am studying the effects of climate change, such as droughts, on mountain ecosystems.
My deep connection with nature combined with my research on climate change resulted in the strong desire to decrease my own carbon footprint and to get actively involved in fighting the climate crisis. I joined several associations (see below), and I am on a constant journey to find sustainable solutions to approach my climbing.
Associations
I am part of the national working group public relations for Scientists for Future Austria. Further, I am actively involved within the regional group of Tyrol and Vorarlberg, where I support the organisation of events, social media, and public outreach.
With the Riders Alliance of Protect our Winters Germany we spread awareness about climate change and sustainable outdoor sports.
By joining Act on Collective Transition for Summits I commit myself to a 10% reduction in personal CO2 emissions every year to protect the environment as a climber.
At the think thank sportainable, we rethink sport: resource-efficient, low-emission, nature-compatible, humane, and sustainable. We provide a basis of knowledge for actors who want to embark on the path of sustainable development. And we provide the impulses to take such paths.
Education
Ongoing
PhD student in Ecology
Thesis title: Ecosystem responses to drought, drought legacies, and recurrent drought, University of Innsbruck, Austria
2020
Certificated Carbon Literacy Training
By the Carbon Literacy Project, Manchester, UK
2019
MSc in Ecology and Biodiversity
Thesis title: Responses of ecosystem and soil CO2 fluxes of subarctic grasslands to warming and nitrogen addition, University of Innsbruck, Austria
2017
Research assistant
Agricultural Research Station, Raumberg-Gumpenstein, Austria
2016
Internship
Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research Atmospheric Environmental Research, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
2016
BSc in Biology
Thesis title: Effects of biodiversity on the resistance and resilience to a drought event, University of Innsbruck, Austria
Prior
Kayak-, ski-, and cross-country ski instructor and outdoor guide
Allgäu region, Germany