Maureen Whalen
PhD Student
Supervisors
Dr Andrew Jennings (UHI Institute for Northern Studies), Dr Steve Taylor (UHI North West and Hebrides), and Laufey Haraldsdóttir (Hólar University)
Research Title
Impacts of Polar Science Tourism in Arctic islands
Research Abstract
This project will focus on four areas in the polar north, Shetland Islands, Orkney Islands, Faroe Islands, and Iceland with the aim to explore the complex mosaic of relationships between nature-based polar tourism providers (on- and off-island), the wider tourism industry and science entities, island communities, businesses, local government, transport operators, and tourists themselves.
This research will consider:
- What are the tensions between social/economic benefits of polar tourism and the stress on identity/culture/infrastructure/natural/natural resources/conservation efforts, stemming from these activities? What are the tensions between large-scale tourism and impacts/benefits to communities from large numbers of tourists in a short space of time and area?
- Is there a misconnection in terms of expectations and communication?
- Where does science research come into this landscape?
- Can these experiences go beyond ‘extractive’ tourism to support co-creation of the touristic experience by communities, tourism providers, scientists, and tourists themselves?
Given that many of the entities involved have an online presence, this project will examine how these islands 'present' themselves online as places for nature-based polar tourism. I recognise that the online ‘personnas’ are underpinned by a deeper set of face-to-face relationships.
Biography
Maureen is a full-time PhD student at the Institute of Northern Studies (INS), based at Scott’s House, Kirkwall. Before coming to INS, Maureen studied at the University of Edinburgh (MSc Science Communication and Public Engagement), the University of Maine (MS Quaternary Studies) and State University of New York (BS Geology). She is Professional Geologist (State of Maine, US) and a Project Management Professional (Project Management Institute). She has worked as a groundwater scientist with environmental consultancies and local government in the US and New Zealand. Prior to taking up her PhD research, she was a project manager with Scotland’s Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW).