Scientist on the rope: the first Slovenian explorers of the Himalayas

SCIENTISTS ON THE ROPE: THE FIRST SLOVENIAN EXPLORERS OF THE HIMALAYAS

The exploration of the Himalayas – the world’s highest and one of its most mysterious mountain ranges – has a rich and varied history. The first Europeans crossed it as early as the 17th century, while systematic research began in the 19th century with British surveyors who mapped the major peaks and established their elevations and names. Initially driven by military strategy and colonial control, Himalayan exploration soon became a sporting challenge – a race to “conquer” the Earth’s highest summits. At the same time, the Himalayas gradually opened up as a scientific laboratory. They attracted cartographers, geologists, botanists, physicians – and, of course, alpinists.

Organized Slovenian research in the Himalayas began in 1960, when the first Himalayan mountaineering expedition was carried out as part of Yugoslav alpinism. These expeditions included not only elite climbers but also scientists, who studied the natural environment, local populations, and the effects of life in extreme conditions. This exhibition presents their maps, objects, and observations – revealing the Himalayas as a place where science, mountaineering, and curiosity meet.

The exhibition is the result of the student project “Identification and Visualization of Slovenian Researchers on Himalayan Expeditions” carried out by the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, the Faculty of Arts, and the Slovenian Alpine Museum.

You are warmly invited to visit the exhibition until 14 September 2025.