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 There are many sub-disciplines or areas of research within Social Sciences. Here are a few; click on them to learn more about these exciting areas of study.
If you think we have missed your area of research in Social Sciences, just let us know and send us a short description. Contact Rosa Rut Thorisdottir
Polar Archaeology
Early attempts at archaeology in the Polar Regions were initiated in the 1930s in the Arctic and 1960s in the Antarctic. In the 1970-90s, archaeology in the Polar Regions increased, most projects undertaken at sites related to early voyages of exploration (e.g. Mawson’s huts at Cape Dennison; Baymaud near Cambridge Bay). Within the Arctic, significant research on indigenous populations has been performed to date. To increase research potential and reduce logistics and costs, archaeologists working within the Polar Regions are most commonly involved in interdisciplinary research projects.
Heritage management of cultural resources within the Arctic and Antarctic is it its infancy. It is not until very recently that organisations such as the ICOMOS International Polar Heritage Committee, http://www.polarheritage.com/, the Polar Archaeology Network (PAN) and the APECS archaeology committee have allowed for better international communication and collaboration on polar archaeological activities. Any number of natural and cultural factors may significantly alter the existing framework for excavation, preservation, conservation and management of submerged or terrestrial cultural heritage monuments and sites within the Arctic and Antarctic; requiring increased interdisciplinary and international collaboration on cultural heritage projects in the Polar Regions.
Arts and Humanities
Arts and humanities disciplines include the following: art history, film studies, history, linguistics, literature, philosophy, performing arts, religion and spirituality, and visual arts. Research in the circumpolar Arctic focuses on the history, languages, and cultures of the hundreds of different linguistic and ethnic groups represented in the Arctic.
The vibrant and innovative artistic expression of Arctic residents is another important topic of study. Humanities research in Antarctica is mostly limited to the history of the original explorers who charted out the continent.
Engineering Research in Polar Regions
In the Polar Regions, engineering research and technologic advances have been increasing continuously, but more important is the increasing incorporation of engineers to multidisciplinary studies in other fields of study. As the best example, since 2009 the SCAR Fellowships calls for “scientists and engineers”. Important advances have been made in Offshore (Ocean) Research and Energy Management issues. As the best example, COMNAP (Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs) opened the Energy Information Exchange group leaded by David Blake. There must be considered that engineering research and development is mostly related to support services and the improvement of some conditions in polar environments (tools, methods, processes, systems). It is common to discover interesting advances, for example, in the SCALOP Congress (Standing Committee on Antarctic Logistics and Operations). Other areas are Coastal Engineering, Building in Cold Environments, Geomatics, and Geotechnical engineering, among others.
Must-read Publications:
Energy Management
Sayers, J. 1994. Paper on Fuel and Oil Usage in Antarctica. Proceedings of the Sixth Symposium on Antarctic Logistics and Operations. Rome, Italy. 29-31 August 1994. Ed. COMNAP, p. 65-79.
ARTEK Event 2008 Proceedings "Sustainable Energy Supply in the Arctic - sun, wind, water"
Building Technologies
Enss, D. 2000. Construction in Antarctica and Cost Effects on Research after Implementation of the Environmental Protocol. Proceedings of the Ninth SCALOP Symposium. Tokyo, Japan. July 12th 2000. Ed. COMNAP, p. 13-24.
McFadden, T., Bennett, F. 1991. Construction in Cold Regions: A Guide for Planners, Engineers, Contractors and Managers. Ed. John Wiley & Sons Inc., New York. 615 pp.
OffShore Engineering
Gerwick, B.C. 1986. Construction of Offshore Structures. Ed. John Wiley & Sons Inc, New York. 672 pp.
Ice and Snow
Mellor, 1975. A review of basic snow mechanics. 41 pp. Available online.
Stefan, Fang, 1997. Simulated climate change effects on ice and snow covers on lakes in a temperate region. Cold Regions Science and Technology, 25, p 137-152. Available online.
Architectural design
Proceedings ARTEK Event 2008 "Tourist Cottages and Climate Change"
Anthropology
Anthropology is the scientific study of the origin and behavior of man, including the development of societies and cultures. Traditionally anthropology is divided into two fields, biological anthropology and cultural anthropology, both of which have their own sub-branches.
Biological anthropology focuses on the study of human populations using an evolutionary framework. Biological anthropologists have theorized about how the globe has become populated with humans, as well as tried to explain geographical human variation.
Cultural anthropology is the study of culture based on methodology that heavily relies on participant-observation. Cultural anthropologists use ethnographic examples to defend their theories. Ethnography is the product of research, a monograph or book describing in detail a specific culture. Indeed, the process of participant-observation can be especially helpful to understanding a culture from an emic point of view; which would otherwise be unattainable by simply reading from a book. The study of kinship and social organization is a central focus of cultural anthropology, as kinship is a human universal. Cultural anthropology also covers economic and political organization, law and conflict resolution, patterns of consumption and exchange, material culture, technology, infrastructure, gender relations, ethnicity, childrearing and socialization, religion, myth, symbols, values, etiquette, worldview, sports, music, art, nutrition, recreation, games, food, festivals, and language.
Because of the holistic nature of anthropological research, all branches of anthropology have widespread practical application in diverse fields. This is known as applied anthropology. Thus military expeditions employ anthropologists to discern strategic cultural footholds; marketing professionals employ anthropology to determine propitious placement of advertising; and humanitarian agencies depend on anthropological insights as means to fight poverty. Examples of applied anthropology are ubiquitous.
Tourism
 Polar tourism has experienced a rapid growth and diversification over the last decade, challenging the political, socio-cultural, economic environments within which polar tourism operates. Furthermore, the polar ecosystems are under increasing pressure from the growing numbers of visitors.
The growth of polar tourism is accompanied by a greater risk for accidents or incidents in polar waters, potentially with disastrous consequences for human and environmental health and safety. Alternative management options and regulatory regimes need to be considered to avoid undesired and irreversible changes in the polar regions as a result of tourism.
If you would like to know more about polar tourism or are interested in contributing to polar tourism research, please contact Daniela Haase Liggett.
Social Sciences in Antarctica
“What does an anthropologist do in Antarctica?” is one of the questions most frequently posed to social anthropologists who embark on doing their field research in the austral region. It may be an obvious question as anthropology is commonly regarded as a discipline that studies ‘exotic’ cultures. Since the Antarctic is no home to such ‘exotic’ cultures, and also until the early 18th century can be characterized as being completely void of human presence, this question is not without merit. However, it is also a particularly interesting question, because it is one that, at least implicitly, contains its own possible answers.
An important historical chapter in the foundation of anthropology as discipline is its intrinsic connection to colonization processes. By constructing knowledge about exotic cultures in Melanesia, Africa, India, Asia and Americas, anthropology – and anthropologists –served as a pillar for the management of the colonies and of everything that was being colonized. After this initial period, anthropology became conscious of the (mis-)use of its knowledge for colonial aims. Since then, many books, articles and theses were written trying to understand as well as offering a critique of the colonial and imperial processes of constructing the category of “the Other” and colonizing it through knowledge.
How might these colonial structures be understood in the Antarctic, where the arrival of colonizers can be understood to be an engagement with an “Other” wilderness, rather than with “Other” humans? Could we consider the scientific presence in Antarctic akin to a colonial process? If so, how might science and scientists resemble and differ from other kinds of ‘colonizers’ from other populated areas? Do they operate from the similar internal colonizing logic? Or does the stark variation in place necessitate and even facilitate an entirely different colonizer and different colonial approach? And indeed, is there a relation between scientific knowledge and territorial management?
It is well-known that the human presence in Antarctic is embedded in principles of peace, science and international cooperation. These moral values have been constructed on the basis of the historical specificity of Antarctic’s political system, where the idea of nation-state is frozen by the Antarctic Treaty. These varying contexts allow for a multitude of ways to express the human experience in the austral region. Mostly, these expressions are in one way or another connected to the moral principles laid out by the Antarctic Treaty System. Historically speaking however, the meaning of peace, cooperation and science has varied enormously. This variation is a flourishing theme for anthropologic research in the Antarctic, since it can give clues about relations between national-states and inter(trans)national places; about how technology is connected to the scientific enterprise in the pole; about identities of the scientists and of the Antarctic; about the eminent cosmopolitanism that arouse from the ideas of global peace.
Another reason why people might ask “what does an anthropologist do in the Antarctic?” is connected to the idea that austral region is a natural laboratory for scientists – not for anthropology. It is precisely for this reason that the Antarctic is important to anthropological research. The so called “science studies” within Anthropology is particularly interested in the study of the scientific practices. It address questions about how scientific facts travel through social and technical circuits as well as how intellectual operations within scientific thinking challenges naturalized concepts like society, nature, representations and epistemology. However, even if science is the main objective of human presence in the Antarctic (a statement which for many social scientists would be considered a naïve), many occupants of this region are in fact not scientists, but include also logistic supporters, construction workers, fishers, tourists and military. Each group adheres to the principles of peace and cooperation in their own way, while also carrying out their own sets of tasks and obligations which at times relate to science only remotely, if at all. How do they do so? What are the social and cultural features of fishery, tourism, logistics and military strategies within this ‘displaced’ context? These other subjects, almost always, interact with scientists in many ways, sometimes even influencing scientific finds. What is the nature of these relations – and their influence? How do “non-scientists” participate in the technical, intellectual and social life of science?
Here, we are presented with just a few matters of anthropological interest in the Antarctic, but it is clear that they are present, and that they more importantly, are under-researched. APECS Social Sciences is the right place for everyone who would like to dive in this cool anthropological world. Our purpose is to share, interact and produce knowledge. Also, we work to legitimize a political and cultural space for anthropology within the competitive field of polar sciences.
Polar Law
The concept of Polar Law is a concept of fairly recent origin. There is no clear-cut definition of this field of polar research, yet, it includes various fields of law, political sciences and social sciences. Especially diverse can the field be regarded in the context of the Arctic. Since there is no single regime covering the Arctic, Arctic law consists of different regimes such as the law of the sea, environmental law, human rights and indigenous peoples’ law. It therefore deals with ‘hard-law’, i.e. legally-binding conventions and treaties such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights or the ILO Convention No. 169, covering the geography and environment, flora and fauna as well as the peoples of the Arctic. Yet, Polar Law in the Arctic also embraces ‘soft-law’, i.e. non-legally binding elements of governance, such as declarations, resolutions, memoranda of understanding or other means of cooperation. This type of cooperation is particularly manifested in international fora such as the Arctic Council or the Barents Euro-Arctic Region, aside from the international dimension having impact on domestic policy-making.
Polar Law also covers the Antarctic. The Antarctic is governed by the Antarctic Treaty System, consisting of the Antarctic Treaty, the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources and the Environmental Protocol (the Convention on the Regulation on Antarctic Mineral Resource Activities is not in force). Therefore, contrary to the Arctic, the Antarctic dimension of Polar Law deals with a legal regime applicable to a specific geographical region, whereas Arctic law covers a vast array of treaties and declarations which are of a global character and merely due to the scope of their provisions also apply to the Arctic.
Polar Law can be regarded as a field of law or political sciences. It should not be regarded as a solely legal concept, but consisting of numerous elements influencing International Relations and governance of the polar regions.
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Social sciences is the umbrella term of the study of human society and of individual relationships within and to society in it broadest meaning - generally including sociology, psychology, anthropology, economics, political science, gender studies, tourism, history and archeology.
A new book entitled "The Basics of Sami Pedagogy" is a textbook of Sami pedagogy now available from Lapland University Press. It is published in five languages: in North Sami, Finnish, English, Swedish, and Russian.
Want to get to know some of the Social Sciences APECS members? Here is some info on the members of the Social Sciences Working Group.
APECS discipline coordinator of social sciences
APECS Executive Committee 2010-2011 / APECS Past President 2009-2010
M.A. Polar Law, University of Akureyri/ Northern Analyst, LOOKNorth Project
APECS correspondent for Social Sciences in the Antarctic
APECS Organizational Development Committee Chair 2010-2011
APECS Council Ex-Officio / APECS Past President 2008-2009
APECS Organizational Development Committee Co-chair
B.A. in Social and Economical Development, University of Akureyri
Social Anthropology PhD Student - Universidad Católica del Norte - Universidad de Tarapacá, Chile
Looking for advice on research ideas or career paths? 
Social Sciences is about creating new ideas - and new ideas are expressed through our publications! We want to help you share the great publications that you have with other members so that you can find out what the latest research is that is going on in your social sciences field. So if you have a recent publication that you want included in this list, please send it to us!
