We are pleased to present a themed issue of AUC Geographica 2/2024, which is dedicated to our multifaceted research conducted in the Alpine environment. This research and education activities were conducted within the framework of the 4EU+ cooperation initiative. The three universities participating in this project have collaborated in both research and education since 2021 and include Charles University (Czechia), University of Milan (Italy) and Heidelberg University (Germany).
We are pleased to present the results of the first three-year collaboration in the combined study of the Belvedere Glacier (Italian Alps), an iconic debris-covered glacier, situated in the Monte Rosa Massif. The site is well-known because of natural hazards related to glacial and geomorphological processes, which are locally affecting hamlets and the tourist trail network. The principal aim of this international collaboration has been to establish a research foundation for education, and to create an appropriate context for integrated research topics in physical geography, geomorphology and remote sensing (https://glam.natur.cuni.cz/). By employing modern methodologies, we seek to collect new data and develop new strategies for the research of glacier-related changes and its hazards during the global climate change.