Samantha Saville

Sam tries to make a positive impact in the world through critical explorations of how our species can live on this planet and sharing her findings. Currently she is a Teaching Associate for the Department of Geography at the University of Cambridge, where she lectures on Arctic and Polar geographies. Her PhD research (completed 2017) explored different ways we can think about cultural and natural heritage conservation in a changing political and physical environment, taking Svalbard as a case study site. Alongside postgraduate studies she has taught tutorials, guest lectures and seminars at the Centre for Alternative Technology, Aberystwyth University and the University of Chester, covering topics including discourses of climate change, perceptions, adaptations and mitigation of climate change, behaviour change, value theory and introductions to economic and cultural geography. Following her PhD she worked on the GLOBAL-RURAL research project, contributing to investigations of globalization processes in rural Wales.

Project: Svalbard is a key hub of the modern Arctic that embodies many questions facing the region as a whole. Communities in Svalbard are having to adapt rapidly to changes in the physical and economic environment. Previous research revealed that key groups in Svalbard value common aspects of society here. The wilderness and the arctic landscape and climate, cultural heritage and arctic history, and the multi-cultural society are all important. However, there are tensions as to how best to measure, protect, manage, and develop these values within a rapidly changing socio-natural environment. This project aims to extend these findings by exploring the most recent developments, including avalanches and home evacuations in Longyearbyen and the closure of the largest coal mine, from residents’ and key stakeholders’ perspectives. In providing the time, training and opportunities to build networks, the fellowship will allow this research to fulfil its potential by publishing original research findings in a range of formats. Feedback to Svalbard communities is important so that they can respond to and benefit from this knowledge. The findings from the Svalbard Futures project are not only relevant to local Svalbard communities, but will be useful in the Arctic region and beyond. This research can offer valuable insights as to how adaptation can occur and how we might be able to improve on our responses to change in the future.