Erin Neufeld
Antarctica and New Zealand : An exploration of why ‘the Ice' matters to New Zealanders
Erin Neufeld
Supervisor
Gary Steel, Lincoln University
Bryan Storey, Gateway Antarctica
What do you think of when someone mentions Antarctica ? Ice, snow, penguins, cold, explorers, isolated, wild? These are all common ways in which people envision and connect with Antarctica , and each person will have a different connection than everyone else due to their culture, their history, their experiences, and much more. My research will explore the spectrum of ways in which people create ‘place' in Antarctica .
My research will focus on New Zealanders varying connections to Antarctica; from those researchers and staff who return year after year to live and work on the ice, to people who have barely even thought of the far off continent. The senses of place constructed across this broad spectrum of experiences will help guide an understanding of what Antarctica means to New Zealanders as people and New Zealand as a country. This in turn will be a useful tool for guiding management and policy with respect to the Ross Dependency. But more than that, my research will explore the fundamental need of all people to connect with space and how it occurs in remote and extreme environments.