A serious accident has shaken the international scientific community. Riccardo Pozzobon, a 40-year-old geologist from Padua, lost his life during a research expedition on Mendenhall Glacier in Alaska, part of a project funded by the National Geographic Grants Program.
Pozzobon traveled to the U.S. on August 26 with two colleagues to study the glacier’s fractures and morphologies from a planetary perspective.
On September 2, during exploration, he slipped into a meltwater stream and was sucked into a natural ice cavity, known as a “glacial sink.”
Rescue efforts continued for several days but were unsuccessful, and U.S. authorities have now suspended the search.
Pozzobon was a prominent figure in planetary geology. A professor at the University of Padua, he collaborated with the European Space Agency (ESA) and served as an instructor for astronauts, including Luca Parmitano, preparing for Moon and Mars missions.
In 2024, he published a significant study in Nature, earning international recognition. His Alaska project, named Gemini, aimed to combine terrestrial geology with space exploration techniques to analyze glacier changes.
The tragedy has deeply affected the academic world. The Italian Geological Society described the loss as “devastating,” remembering Pozzobon as an extraordinary individual and an outstanding researcher.
The Rector of the University of Padua, Daniela Mapelli, stated: “Riccardo lost his life pursuing one of his greatest passions: research. It is a profound sorrow and a sense of helplessness, but also a desire to always remember and honor him.”
Pozzobon is survived by his partner, Claudia, and their young son. To support the family, the Italian Geological Society has launched a donation fund.
