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Human-environment relations are at the heart of much of our research at Aberdeen. Our approach to the subject is varied and innovative, stretching from fundamental questions of perception to the nitty-gritty of land rights, access and environmental contestations.
Research into perception and dwelling is exemplified by Tim Ingold’s renowned theoretical work, Jo Vergunst’s ‘Culture from the Ground’ research on ways of walking and Andrew Whitehouse’s ‘Listening to Birds’ project, which explores how people perceive and interact with birds through sound. This last project also illustrates our interest in human-animal relations, as does Maggie Bolton’s research into Andean llama herders and Rob Wishart’s work on hunting traditions and wildlife management. Both Whitehouse and Wishart have conducted research into nature conservation and its relations to local communities in Scotland and Canada. The department also has a growing reputation for work on landscape, developing from a series of workshops on ‘Landscape beyond land’ that have led on to an edited book (forthcoming with Berghahn) and several journal articles.
A key element of our research into human-environment relations is our enthusiasm for working with colleagues in other disciplines, both at Aberdeen and elsewhere. Whitehouse, Ingold and Vergunst are all involved in the inter-disciplinary Aberdeen Centre for Environmental Sustainability, and we are also collaborating with artists on various environmental projects.
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Loch Gruinart, Islay, Scotland (Photo: Andrew Whitehouse) |
Environment and perception have always been prominent in our teaching programmes in anthropology at Aberdeen. At undergraduate level environmental themes are introduced in level one and are at the core of the level three course ‘Society and Nature’. In level four the innovative courses in ‘The 4 A's’ and ‘Anthropology and Landscape’ investigate cutting-edge research and ideas in environmental anthropology. We have recently launched a new taught postgraduate programme in People and Environment, which provides both a grounding in environmental anthropology and an introduction to our themes of particular interest here in Aberdeen, such as perception, human-animal relations, conservation and landscape.
Maggie Bolton, Tim Ingold, Jo Vergunst, Rob Wishart, Andrew Whitehouse.
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