What is CRITIS?

Past environmental crises demonstrate how exceeding planetary boundaries—so-called tipping points—leads to profound, often irreversible changes.

The CRITIS project familiarizes students and adults with geoscientific insights from Earth’s history to better understand and contextualize current developments such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and the reaching of ecological tipping points.

The focus is on two of the largest mass extinctions in Earth’s history at the boundaries of the Triassic period: the Permian–Triassic boundary approximately 252 million years ago and the Triassic–Jurassic boundary 200 million years ago, as examples of systemic upheavals. The past thus serves as a mirror for the present and the future—for greater resilience and awareness in our stewardship of the Earth.

Why this project?

The Alpine region is one of the areas most severely affected by climate change. Temperatures here are rising at roughly twice the global average rate. Glaciers are melting, permafrost is thawing, and extreme weather events are on the rise. These developments threaten not only the unique Alpine flora and fauna, but also the livelihoods of the people in the region.

Challenges such as biodiversity loss and climate change know no national borders. That is why cross-border cooperation is essential: The project connects South Tyrol and Tyrol—two regions that share the same natural environment and must act together. Scientific insights from Earth’s history help to better convey the urgency of climate protection measures and strengthen the population’s resilience to future challenges.

The study area encompasses two significant geological boundary regions in the Alpine region:

Permian-Triassic Boundary | South Tyrol

In the GEOPARC Bletterbach, as well as in Pufels and the surrounding area, there are outstanding rock outcrops that offer unique insights into the dramatic ecological and climatic changes of the largest mass extinction in Earth’s history.

Triassic-Jurassic boundary | Tyrol

At Kuhjoch in the Karwendel Nature Park lies the internationally recognized GSSP (Global Stratotype Section and Point) for the Triassic-Jurassic boundary—a globally unique reference point for the second-largest mass extinction in Earth’s history.

Scientific Foundations (WP 2 – Paleobiodiversity)

Scientific findings on past biodiversity crises at the Permian–Triassic and Triassic–Jurassic boundaries will be systematically compiled, supplemented, and analyzed. Gaps in knowledge will be filled through targeted scientific analyses. The results will form the basis for all other project components.

Tipping points yesterday and today (WP 3 – Critical Tipping Points)

Parallels between historical biodiversity crises and current, human-induced climate crises will be analyzed and presented to a broad audience. With renowned scientists such as Prof. Georg Kaser (IPCC author, glaciologist) and Prof. Sylvain Richoz (sedimentary geologist), a well-founded picture emerges of what constitutes the Earth as an interconnected system and how fragile this balance is.

Educational Materials and Mixed Reality (WP 4 – Didactics)

The heart of the project: an innovative educational program that brings scientific content to life through modern technologies. The following will be developed:

The project will produce:

• educational materials and workshops tailored to school curricula and various target groups
• guided field trips to key geological sites
• a mobile, interactive mixed-reality application that can be flexibly used in schools or at events
• scientific paleoart illustrations of past ecosystems (4 illustrations and 3D models)

Nine pilot schools from Tyrol and South Tyrol are already involved in the project and are assisting with the development of the materials.

Lead Partner

GEOPARC Bletterbach (Aldein, South Tyrol)

The GEOPARC Bletterbach has many years of experience in communicating geoscientific content and organizing educational programs. As a scientist and project coordinator, Director Hannah Pomella brings extensive expertise in the earth sciences to the project.

Project Partners

Tyrolean State Museums (Innsbruck, Tyrol)

The Tyrolean State Museums possess extensive scientific expertise in paleontology and many years of experience in museum education. Their natural history collection comprises over 3 million animals, 400,000 plants, and approximately 40,000 rocks and fossils.

Associated Partners

Office for Geology and Building Materials Testing (South Tyrol)
Provincial Museums / Museum Ladin & South Tyrol Museum of Natural History (South Tyrol)
Karwendel Nature Park Association (Tyrol)

Scientific Advisory Board

The project is supported by internationally recognized scientists:

Prof. Georg Kaser – Climate researcher, lead author of several IPCC reports, member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, University of Innsbruck

Prof. Sylvain Richoz – Sedimentary geologist and expert on biodiversity crises, Lund University, played a key role in the recognition of the Kuhjoch profile as a GSSP

Priv.-Doz. Dr. Evelyn Kustatscher – Paleoecologist and curator of the Tyrolean State Museums, expert on the Permian-Triassic boundary in the Dolomites

Dr. Hannah Pomella – Geologist, Director of GEOPARC Bletterbach, Project Manager

Dr. Herwig Prinoth – Paleontologist (Museum Ladin)