Sir Stanley Burbury Lecture Theatre, Dobson Road, Sandy Bay and Online
Summary:Tourism in Antarctica and the Arctic is growing rapidly, but at what cost?
Presenter(s):
- Associate Professor Julia Olsen, Nord University, Bodø, Norway
- Doctor Hanne Nielsen, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania
- Professor Elizabeth Leane, Professor of Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania
Tourism in Antarctica and the Arctic is growing rapidly, but at what cost?
Tourism to Antarctica is growing rapidly, with more than 125,000 travellers heading south last season, while the Arctic is warming four times faster than the global average.
As more travellers venture into these once-remote environments, urgent questions arise about responsibility and the protection of fragile ecosystems. How do we safeguard these landscapes as visitor numbers increase? What responsibilities do travellers, researchers and governments hold?
Join us for a thought-provoking conversation exploring how polar environments are being experienced, represented and governed in an era of accelerating environmental change.
Tickets are free but essential, register now to avoid missing out.
About the experts
Associate Professor Julia Olsen, Nord University, Bodø, Norway
Julia is a visiting scholar and environmental sociologist whose research focuses on polar governance, shipping and cruise tourism. Drawing on Arctic case studies, her work explores how tourism and vessel traffic are regulated in icy environments, and where policy and industry frameworks struggle to keep pace with rapid environmental and economic change.
Julia's research spans socio-economic adaptation in the Arctic, ocean sustainability, marine litter, and the development of shipping and tourism in the High North. She holds a PhD in sociology, where she examined the impacts of increased shipping activity in the Barents region on coastal communities and their capacity to adapt.
Doctor Hanne Nielsen, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania
Hanne is a Senior Lecturer in Antarctic Law and Governance at the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies. She specialises in representations of Antarctica and has a particular interest in the commercial history of the continent. Hanne is the author of Brand Antarctica: How Global Consumer Culture Shapes Our Perceptions of the Ice Continent (2023) and her current work examines how imagined versions of Antarctica intersect with peoples lived experiences through tourism and the media.
She is a Chief Officer of the SCAR Standing Committee on Humanities and Social Sciences; a co-lead of the SCAR Tourism Action Group (Ant-TAG); and led Theme 7 (An Inspiring and Engaging Ocean) of the Southern Ocean Decade Action Plan.
Moderated by Professor Elizabeth Leane, Professor of Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania
Elizabeth is an Antarctic studies scholar whose research examines how Antarctica is represented in literature, media and public culture. With a background in physics and literary studies, she explores how stories about the polar regions shape public attitudes, national imaginaries and policy debates.
Her recent work focuses on polar tourism, Antarctic gateway cities, and the creative arts as a means of connecting people to Antarctica. Elizabeth currently leads the ARC-fund project Creative Antarctica: Australian Artists and Writers in the Far South.
Pre-event refreshments:
Head to the venue early and enjoy complimentary refreshments from 5.30pm.
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