Tabea Rettelbach – Bernd Rendel Prizewinner 2024
Tabea Rettelbach conducts research into permafrost, focussing on a topic that is becoming increasingly important in view of climate change: she is looking into the impact of thawing permafrost on landscapes with so-called ice wedge polygons. The result of a recurring cycle of freezing and thawing of soils, this type of landscape is typical of the Arctic. Since it is not possible to see into the ground everywhere, Rettelbach makes use of remote sensing methods, in particular high-resolution images and elevation models. She visualises the ice wedge polygons as mathematical graphs. The methods and calculations she uses enable her to analyse the processes observed not only at a local level but also across national and continental borders. Rettelbach has published seven high-calibre research papers, three of them as first author, and she has also successfully participated in numerous competitions. She plans to use her prize money to attend the Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition Conference.