Jan 25, 2024: The Doctoral School Approves Elena Davydova’s Dissertation Project

Chukotka Warehouse Garage. Photo by Elena Davydova.
Chukotka Warehouse Garage. Photo by Elena Davydova.

Elena Davydova’s doctoral dissertation project has been approved by the advisory board of the Vienna Doctoral School of Social Sciences (ViDSS), University of Vienna, after a successful Fakultätsöffentliche Präsentation. In this public presentation of PhD thesis projects, candidates present their research proposals and their related ethical considerations to the faculty staff. It is an important step at the doctoral studies, and a requisite for the approval of the topic and supervision of the project, which enables its continuation.

Her dissertation project “Infrastructure and/for Sustenance: (Re)Shaping Local Foodways in Remote Russian Arctic Communities” will draw on a year of ethnographic fieldwork conducted in the Chukotka Autonomous Area (Russia) to explore the transformative potential of infrastructures in relation to food practices. In other words, how existing and ruined infrastructures contribute to the production, distribution, preparation, consumption, and utilization of food items. This research is supported by the ERC Advanced Grant project InfraNorth [Grant Agreement ID: 885646].

Logo of the EASA 2024 Conference in Barcelona

Jul 23, 2024: InfraNorth at EASA 2024 Conference in Barcelona

InfraNorth team members will participate in the 18th EASA Biennial Conference in Barcelona. With the theme “Doing and Undoing with Anthropology,” the event will take place at the University of Barcelona (July 23 – 26, 2024). On Tuesday, July 23, Katrin Schmid will present her paper “Devolution of Desires, or How Food and Transportation Determine […]

Announcement of the InfraNorth Workshop “Ethnography Beyond the Case Study: Possibilities and Limitations of Comparison”

Sep 10, 2024: InfraNorth Workshop “Ethnography Beyond the Case Study: Possibilities and Limitations of Comparison”

Date and time: September 10, 2024, from 09:30 to 18:00 CEST. Venue: Nordregio. Holmamiralens Väg 10, Skeppsholmen, 111 49 Stockholm, Sweden (See: Map). Register here for in-person attendance. Register here for online participation. The ERC Advanced Grant project InfraNorth, in collaboration with Nordregio, will host the workshop “Ethnography Beyond the Case Study: Possibilities and Limitations […]

Amazon hub in Iqaluit, Nunavut. Photo by Katrin Schmid (2023).

Jun 20, 2024: Polar Journal Features Research by Katrin Schmid

Polar Journal, an online information platform on polar affairs, recently published an article titled “Nunavut communities in petition to regain access to vital Amazon deliveries.” The piece, written by Ole Ellekrog, features insights from Katrin Schmid’s research in Nunavut, as well as her recent blog post “Amazon in the Arctic.” Drawing on conversations that the […]

Olga Povoroznyuk receives the sowi:doc 2023 Award by the Vienna Doctoral School of Social Sciences. © Barbara Mair / Vienna Doctoral School of Social Sciences

Jun 13, 2024: Talk by Olga Povoroznyuk at the sowi:doc Awards Ceremony

“We build a railroad and the railroad builds us.” This idea gave title to Olga Povoroznyuk’s talk at the sowi:doc 2023 Awards ceremony of the Vienna Doctoral School of Social Sciences (ViDSS). Dr. Povoroznyuk, one of this year’s award winners, talked about her dissertation “Soviet infrastructure in the post-Soviet era? Building a railroad and identity […]

Peter Schweitzer receives the IASSA Award 2024.

Jun 1, 2024: Peter Schweitzer Receives IASSA Award 2024

The International Arctic Social Sciences Association (IASSA) has granted Peter Schweitzer an Honorary Lifetime Membership Award in recognition of his sustained and significant contribution to Arctic social sciences. The award ceremony took place on June 1, 2024, during the 11th International Congress of Arctic Social Sciences (ICASS XI) and as part of the Arctic Congress […]

Logo of the High North News.

May 31, 2024: The High North News Features Research by Ria-Maria Adams

The High North News, an independent newspaper published by the High North Center, recently highlighted InfraNorth researcher Ria-Maria Adams’ presentation at the Stormen Concert Hall during the Arctic Congress 2024 Bodø. Her presentation “Entanglements of Arctic Tourism Infrastructures: Imaginaries & Temporality” explored how “imaginary infrastructures” (featuring the elusive aurora hunting and the promotion of imaginary […]