Ulrike Gschwandtner

Ulrike Gschwandtner (20 July 1965 – 3 July 2007) was an Austrian political and social scientist.

Life
Gschwandtner's academic work involved in the research and promotion of women's issues since the late 1980s. In 1989, she graduated with a Mag.phil from the University of Salzburg, and then went on to pursue doctoral studies. She went on to lecture at the universities of Salzburg, Linz, and Vienna University of Economics and Business. In 1996, alongside Birgit Buchinger, she founded the Institut Solution Sozialforschung & Entwicklung. In 2001, she was awarded the Social Policy Prize for the 21st Century by the Austrian Academy of Sciences.

Gschwandtner gained experience in high-altitude mountain climbing through ascents of Lenin Peak (7,143 m) and Denali (6,194 m).

On the way to climb her first eight-thousander, Gasherbrum II, Gschwandtner died unexpectedly during the expedition in Pakistan. At age 41 she was found dead in her tent at base camp at 5,000 meters above sea level on the Abruzzi Glacier. The day before, she had climbed to Gasherbrum's camp 1 and back down again to acclimatize. Despite the efforts of three doctors in her expedition party, she could not be revived.

In addition to her work in the social sciences, she was a filmmaker. In 2002, she produced a film about Salzburg climbing pioneer Helma Schimke, "Über allem der Berg".

Honors

 * In 2008, the newly built Ulrike-Gschwandtner-Straße in Salzburg's Nonntal district was named after her. In the announcement, the council sought to honor her achievements in science, culture and sport.
 * In 2016, Gschwandtner was recognized as one of 13 of Salzburg's "Non-conformists" in a special exhibition honoring Dazzling Life in Salzburg.