Dr Neil Gilbert
Position
Adjunct Senior Fellow
Environment Manager, Antarctica New Zealand (links to an external web site)
Qualifications
M.Sc (Hons). Ph.D.Contact Details
Antarctica New Zealand
Phone: +64 (0)3 358 0219
Fax: +64 (0)3 358 0211
Email: n.gilbert@antarcticanz.govt.nz
Postal address:
c/- Gateway Antarctica
Ground Floor Geography Building
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch
New Zealand
Background
Neil has worked on polar matters for the last 25 years and been involved with Gateway Antarctic for several years.
In 1985 Neil joined the British Antarctic Survey as a research scientist completing his PhD on near-shore marine ecology in 1991. For the field component of his research, Neil spent 2.5 years living and working at the British Antarctic Survey’s Signy Island research station. Between 1991 and 1994 Neil continued his association with Signy as permanent Base Commander for the station.
After a period working for the UK’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Foods on marine impact studies, Neil was appointed to the position of Deputy Head of the Polar Regions Unit in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1997. In that capacity Neil represented the UK at meetings of the Antarctic Treaty and its Committee on Environmental Protection (CEP). He also represented the UK at several Arctic Council Senior Arctic Official and Ministerial meetings.
In 2003 Neil immigrated to New Zealand joining Antarctica New Zealand as Environmental Manager. In this capacity he has continued to attend meetings of the CEP as New Zealand’s representative. In 2006 Neil was elected to the Chair of the Committee and has just completed his four year term in that capacity.
Research Interests
Antarctic environmental management, and Antarctic governance through the Antarctic Treaty System
Selected Publications and Papers
Gilbert, N.S. 1991. Primary production by benthic microalgae in nearshore marine sediments of Signy Island, Antarctica. Polar Biology, 11(5), p.339-346.
Gilbert, N.S. 1991. Microphytobenthic seasonality in near-shore marine sediments at Signy Island, South Orkney Islands, Antarctica. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 33(1), p.89-104.
Ligget, D., McIntosh, A., Thompson, A., Storey, B. and Gilbert, N. 2010. Stakeholder Perspectives on the Governance of Antarctic Cruise Tourism. In: Cruise Tourism in Polar Regions: Promoting Environmental and Social Sustainability? Luck, M., Maher, P.T., and Stewart, E.J. Eds.
Orheim, O., Press, A., and Gilbert, N. (In Press). Managing the Antarctic Environment: National and International Responsibilities. In: Science Diplomacy: Antarctica, Science and the Governance of International Spaces. Berkman, P.A., Lang, M.A., Walton, D.W.H., and Young, O.R. (eds). Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press, Washington D.C.