The Board of the University of the Arctic (UArctic) has selected Professor David G. Anderson for the position of UArctic Chair in Anthropology of the Arctic. This selection was a competitive process with 25 nominations from around the world. The position is highly prestigious and will commence on 1 January 2022 for five years. He will be the first UArctic Chair representing the Social Sciences and Humanities. The UArctic Board in its evaluation cited Prof. Anderson’s “phenomenal record of high-ranking scholarship, interdisciplinary research leadership, and interdisciplinary collaboaration which spans the entire circumpolar North”. Professor Anderson will sit on in the UArctic’s Academic Advisory Board (MIMIR). The position holds a number of responsibilities including fostering collaborative actions among UArctic members and Thematic Networks in partnerships with the broader Arctic community. He will also be closely involved with the Scottish Executive’s Arctic Connections initiative. Additionally, this strengthens h the Department of Anthropology’s research themes and the University’s North theme.
Euronews carries an article and video on the work of Professor David Anderson and the project he is leading to digitise an endangered archive containing the voices, stories and songs of indigenous people of the North captured over six decades.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0010nw3
https://www.abdn.ac.uk/news/15425/