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Birgit Ottmer
Function
Head of Support Unit, Member of Directors Board
Contact
+41 81 417 02 75
WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF
Flüelastrasse 11
7260 Davos Dorf
Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL
Zürcherstrasse 111
8903 Birmensdorf
Site
Davos Bi HL B 31, Da B 2 16
Tasks at WSL
As Head of WSL's Communication Unit, the dialogue between WSL and the public, politicians, authorities, practitioners and the scientific community is particularly important to me. The exchange between WSL staff, WSL management and employees and across sites is also close to my heart.
The fields of activity of our support unit include internal communication, PR, science in dialogue, knowledge transfer/marketing, knowledge dissemination, technical-methodological support, communication consulting and multimedia production (e.g. web videos).
In 2020/21 I was also interim head of WSL's Planning and Logistics Division, i.e. the non-research departments Human Resources, Finance and Support, IT, Communication, Operations Birmensdorf and Operations Davos. Research is the core mission of WSL - but without the work of these support units, the researchers would not be able to fulfil their task. That is why I consider our highly qualified and motivated employees in the support units to be central to WSL's success.
Education
| 1980-1993 | Primary, Secundary, and Highschool in Kreuzlingen Matur Typus B |
| 1993-1998 | Studies in Environmental Science at ETH Zurich Dipl. Umwelt-Natw. ETH (equals a Master Degree) |
| 2004-2006 | Postgraduate studies in integrated corporate communications, FH Nordwestschweiz Executive Master of Corporate Communication Management |
| 2020-2021 | CAS Rhetorik und Moderation am MAZ - Die Schweizer Journalistenschule |
Professional career
| since 2022 | Member of the Directorate WSL |
| 2020/21 | Head of Planning and Logistics WSL (ad interim), Member of Directorate WSL (ad interim) |
| since 2009 | Head of Communications WSL |
| 2006-2009 | Head of Knowledge Managment and Deputy Head of Communications WSL |
| 2001-2006 | Groupe Leader Outreach and Project Leader Internatianal Year of Mountains at SLF |
| 2000-2001 | Project Leader Public Relations at Institut für Baubiologie SIB |
| 1999-2000 | Public Relations Officer at the Swiss Ornithological Station Sempach |
| 1987-1999 | Internships and side jobs: Nationalpark Hainich (D) Naturpark Eichsfeld-Hainich-Werratal Institut für Experimentelle Ökologie ETHZ Alterszentrum Kreuzlingen |
When I'm not working..
...I still have enough to do:
- I like to be out in the mountains, e.g. hiking, ski touring, cross-country skiing or gardening - preferably together with my husband and/or children.
- I follow the birds with binoculars and telescopes. I am a field ornithologist and excursion leader SVS/ZVS and have worked on the breeding bird atlas 2013-2016 of the Swiss Ornithological Institute Sempach.
- I am a foundation board member of the Swiss Research Institute for High Altitude Climate and Medicine Davos, the governing body of the SIAF and PMOD-WRC research institutes. There I represent the Davos Natural Sciences Society NGD, on whose board I am.
- I am active on the board of Pro Natura Graubünden..
My place of residence, Filisur, is in Parc Ela. It is very important to me that this regional nature park of national importance is a success.
