“A Southern Perspective on the North”
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“With the Head up North”
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Polar research on air

Live discussion with Stefan Donecker and Gertrude
Eilmsteiner-Saxinger on the Austrian radio station OE1

Aug 7th, 2013, Oe1: 14.05

Our AAS members Stefan Donecker (historian) and Gertrude Eilmsteiner-Saxinger (social anthropologist) were invited to discuss on air with Johann Kneihs: From Austrian polar exhibitions in the 19th century to contemporary researches in the Arctic. They talked about various myths about the North and the Northeners, and discussed urgent issues concerning climate change, indigenous people and current issues on exploiting natural resources.

Link to the broadcast:
http://oe1.orf.at/programm/345264

Request the full recording:
http://oe1.orf.at/kontakt/mitschnitte

Conference “Contemporary issues in long-distance commute work”

International conference: Contemporary issues in long-distance commute work in the extractive industries and other sectors

July 8-10th, 2013, Kunsthalle Wien Karlsplatz, Treitlstraße 2, 1040 Vienna

Our AAS members Gertrude Eilmsteiner-Saxinger, Elena Nuikina, and Elisabeth Öfner were organizing this international conference and presented their papers. The Arctic- and Subarctic working group is a co-organizer of this symposium.

Тhe symposium

Long-distance commute (LDC) work and fly-in/fly-out (FIFO) operations are types of mobile work arrangements where workers are resident at one location, but for varying periods of time live and work at another, commuting between the two on a periodic basis. Typically the workplace is at some distance from the normal place of residence, isolated from other communities such that accommodations and other services have to be supplied by the resource or project developer. This type of work arrangement has become increasingly relevant for the extractive industries as well as in construction, technology, administration and service sectors worldwide. This is especially the case in remote regions such as the Sub-Arctic as well as in regions where a qualified labour force is not available. Though these work arrangements date back to the early days of offshore oil exploration and to the 1970s in the mining sector, however studies on many aspects of LDC in different contexts are still often at an exploratory stage.

Contemporary research primarily refers to community and regional development implications of LDC and to a lesser extent research on impacts on LDC workers and their families. The LDC workers, their mobile life-style and the conditions of long-distance commuting in the variety of industries and sectors where it is used has so far still only received limited attention. LDC is not a homogenous organisation of mobile labour, and as such involves a wide variety of forms and settings.

This symposium strives to shed light on contemporary scientific discussions, theory and methodology in the study of LDC labour matters, as well as to applied studies and entrepreneurial practice related to mobile labour organization. In particular, contributions will examine the complexity of modes and impacts of LDC and the responses of the workers themselves to this method of organising a labour force. The organisers welcome contributions from those in private sector, government, academic and other groups with interests in any of the sectors that utilize this form of work organization or with interests in this type of work organization from a variety of perspectives from theory to practice, policy making to regulation, assessment to management, etc. Conference languages will be English and Russian (translations provided).

Read more about the conference:
https://raumforschung.univie.ac.at/index.php?id=140601

Organized by: FWF Project „Lives on the Move”
Institute for Geography and Regional Research, University of Vienna
Institute for Urban Studies and Regional Research, Austrian Academy of Sciences,
A.A.S. Working Group Arctic and Subarctic

Newly founded Austrian Polar Research Institute (APRI)

Foundation of the Austrian Polar Research Institute: Presentation of the Institute

April 8th, 2013; University of Vienna

The Austrian Polar Research Institute (APRI) is a research consortium that promotes and coordinates research and education in the area of polar sciences at the participating organisations. The APRI is interdisciplinary and involves about 50 scientists in 14 research groups. There is a public presentation of the institute on April 8th, at the University of Vienna’s main public lecture hall.

Our AAS members Gertrude Eilmsteiner-Saxinger and Peter Schweitzer are leading a research group in the section „social and cultural systems“. Former focuses on the extractive industry, mobility of labour force and the interaction with the local community. Latter does research on social aspects of climate change and globalization especially in Siberia and Alaska. Elena Nuykina and Elisabeth Öfner, AAS members as well are part of a research group.

Link: http://www.polarresearch.at/

Lecture “The trial of ‘Alten Thiess’”

The trial of ‘Alten Thiess’, 1692/93. A werewolf conception of life.

A lecture by Dr. Stefan Donecker

March 28th, 2012, 6:30 pm

University of Vienna’s main building, Dr.-Karl-Lueger-Ring 1, 1010 Wien lecture room 45

Im Jahr 1691 stand ein rund 85jähriger lettischer Bauer, der “Alte Thiess”, in Jürgensburg – dem heutigen Zaube in Lettland – als vermeintlicher Hexer und Werwolf vor Gericht. Der betagte Angeklagte verblüffte die Richter mit einem bereitwilligen Geständnis: Er war ein Werwolf, und er war äußerst stolz darauf – denn die Werwölfe, so Thiess, seien Diener Gottes und würden in aufopferungsvollen Kämpfen die Fruchtbarkeit des Landes gegen den Teufel und sein Gefolge verteidigen.

Stefan Donecker, historian and AAS member gives a lecture about a trial of a werewolf in 1692. The fascinating documents give insights into northern Europeans society at the end of 17th century, especially on the social construction of body, gender and ethnicity.

Im Zuge des Vortrages soll diese Vorstellung eines gesellschaftsdienlichen Werwolfs, die mit der gelehrten Dämonologie des 17. Jahrhunderts völlig unvereinbar war, untersucht werden. Der Prozess des “Alten Thiess” ist eine faszinierende Quelle – nicht nur wegen der markanten Persönlichkeit des sturen, unbequemen und dabei irgendwie liebeswerten Angeklagten, sondern auch aufgrund der einzigartigen Einblicke in die soziale Konstruktion von Körper, Geschlecht und Ethnizität in einer bäuerlichen Lebenswelt an der äußersten Peripherie Europas. Am Beispiel dieses historischen Dokuments möchte ich verdeutlichen, wie Impulse aus dem frühneuzeitlichen Nordosteuropa in die Lehre am Institut für Geschichte eingebracht werden könnten.

Conference ICASS VII

Working Group Arctic and Subarctic members at the ICASS VII

June 22-26, 2011; Akureyri, Iceland

Working group Arctic and Subarctic members at the ICASS VII. ICASS is the International Arctic Social Science Organization and the conference is held every three years. The theme of the conference in 2011was: Circumpolar Perspectives in Global Dialogue: Social Sciences Beyond the International Polar Year.

Our AAS members Stefan Donecker, Gertrude Eilmsteiner-Saxinger, Silvije Habulinec, Elena Nuikina, and Elisabeth Öfner took part in this conference.

Link: For detailed program and abstracts refer to the website of the IASSA

10 years Working group Arctic and Subarctic

In 2010 we celebrated the 10th anniversary of the foundation of the working group. In an informal get-together at a traditional viennese wine restaurant we recalled old days and made plans for the years to come.

Photo (from left to right): Silvije Habulinec, Markus Hirnsperger, Alexander Köhler (standing), Stefan Bauer, Stefan Donecker, Aline Ehrenfried, Stefan Pohlmann (standing), Elena Aleshkevich, Annett Bartsch

Austrian Polar Symposium

Museum of Natural History
March 26-28th 2009, Vienna

Organized by the Austrian Polar Research Association

Vom 26. bis 28. März 2009 fand im Naturhistorischen Museum Wien das 3. Österreichische Polarsymposium tatt. Die Österreichische Gesellschaft für Polarforschung lud, Polarforscher und Polarophile, im Zuge des Internationalen Polarjahres zu einer Tagung ein.

Aline Ehrenfried, Stefan Bauer und Gertrude Eilmsteiner-Saxinger nahmen für die Arbeitsgemeinschaft Arktis und Subarktis an der Veranstaltung teil und präsentierten aktuelle Forschungsvorhaben.

Präsentation der AAS von Aline Ehrenfried als pdf zum download: AAS Präsentation (pdf)
Programm zur Veranstaltung: Programm (pdf)
Bilder der Veranstaltung: Bilder

International Polar Year 2007—2009

The International Council for Science (ICSU) and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) have devoted the period from 1st March 2007 until 1st March 2009 to the polar regions of the world. Arctic and Antarctic are in focus of a comprehensive scientific programme, which even stretches over two years this time – to give scientists the opportunity to conduct research in all seasons of the year on the northern and southern hemisphere.

The International Polar Year is the forth broad event concerning the Polar Regions, after the first International Polar Year 1882/83 followed by the second one in 1932/33 and the International Geophysical Year 1957/58. Scientists from all over the world are involved in more than 200 interdisciplinary scientific programmes, particularly concerning climate research, physics and biology. But also cultural and social topics are addressed.

The International Polar Year motivated us to organize a lecture at the University of Vienna, public photo exhibitions, talks and discussions to inform and make people aware of arctic concerns.

The arctic regions include areas above the arctic circles and are home to over one million people. Despite their marginal position, the Polar Regions play in important global role considering the complex correlation between the climate and the marine ecosystem.

Alongside scientific research, expeditions and observation programmes in the Polar Regions, also the general public should be addressed and involved in activities around the International Polar Year. Lectures, conferences, or educational programmes inform about the Arctic and Antarctic, about land, ocean, ice and people.

Links:

official website dedicated to the Int. Polar Year 2007: http://www.ipy.org

Other relevant links to the history of the IPY:
http://www.arctic.noaa.gov/aro/ipy-1/History.htm

Exhibitions “Pictures of the North”

Pictures of the North: The Sami community’s “traditional” life in contemporary Sweden — a photo exhibition

2008

Das Projekt handelt von den Sami in der Region Kiruna, aus den Gemeinden Laevas und Gabna. Den Sommer verbringen die Rentierzüchtenden Sami im Hochgebirge, nahe der norwegischen Grenze, um die jungen Kälber zu markieren. Im Winter wandern die Herden Richtung Osten ins Flachland und werden von den Sami wieder in großen Korralen gesammelt und gezählt. Die heutige Kultur der Sami ist geprägt von einer Gratwanderung zwischen der Aufrechterhaltung alter samischer Traditionen und Lebensweisen und dem modernen globalisierten Leben der Majoritätsbevölkerung. Die Bilder porträtieren eine Gesellschaft, die neben den Annehmlichkeiten moderner Technik zur Rentierzucht bemüht ist, das Leben in und mit der Natur zu bewahren. Die Ausstellung wurde 2007 erstmals im Scandinavian Design House in Wien gezeigt.

Our AAS-member Kerstin Schröder, linguist and expert on Scandinavia, did research intensively among the Sami in the north of Sweden. The exhibition presents pictures taken by David Bacher, a Paris based photographer, while their stay among the Sami.

Link: http://www.davidbacher.com/photos-en.html

Series of events “365 days in the open air”

March 6th – 13th , 2008; diverse venues

In March 2008 a photo exhibition about the life in the North with pictures of the Nenets artist Habecha Yaungad is shown in Vienna. Besides the photo exhibition, several lectures and film screenings took place.

These events are dedicated to the nenets, the indigenous people in Russia’s northern arctic region. Habetscha Jaungad, a nenets journalist gives impressions about his culture and life. The events were organized by AAS members.

365 Tage unter freiem Himmel: Rentiernomaden im polaren Sibirien

Im Zuge des Internationalen Polarjahres kam der Künstler und Journalist Habetscha Jaungad nach Wien, um über das Leben und Überleben im Hohen Norden Russlands zu berichten.

Der langjärige Redakteur der nenzischen Zeitung Nar”jana Ngerm und Fotograf war in Wien in mehreren Diskussionsveranstaltungen zu sehen und eröffnete eine Ausstellung mit eigenen Fotografien aus seiner Heimat, dem Land der Nenzen.

Photo exhibition: “365 Tage unter freiem Himmel” mit Bildern von Habetscha Jaungad

6. – 13. März 2008; Russisches Kulturinstitut, Brahmsplatz 8, 1040 Wien

Unter der Anwesenheit des Künstlers findet am Donnerstag, dem 6. März 2008, um 18 Uhr die Vernissage statt.

Podiumsgespräch mit Kurzfilm: “Die indigene Bevölkerung in urbanen
Gebieten des Autonomen Kreises der Jamalnenzen”

Montag, 10. März 2008, 19.30 – 20.30 Uhr, Institut für Slawistik der
Universität Wien, Spitalgasse 2, Hof 3, 1090 Wien

Habetscha Jaungad wird anwesend sein und über das Leben in seiner Heimat berichten (Veranstaltung in russ. Sprache).

Diskussionsveranstaltung mit Film “Leben im Autonomen Kreis der
Jamalnenzen und das Internationale Polarjahr 2007-08”

Dienstag, 11. März 2008, 15 Uhr Institut für Kultur- und Sozialanthropologie der Universität Wien, Universitätsstr. 7, NIG, 4. Stock, 1010 Wien

Prof. Peter Schweitzer (Univ. of Alaska Fairbanks) berichtet über das Internationale Polarjahr (2007-2008) und Habetscha Jaungad über das Leben in seiner Heimat (mit Film).

Film und Diskussionsveranstaltung

Mittwoch, 12. März 2008, 18.30 – 21.00 Uhr, Gallery M – Vienna, Arctic Inuit und Native Indian Fine & Decorative Arts,1080 Wien, Strozzigasse 47

Filmpräsentation mit Begrüßung des Fotografen Habecha Jaungad

Habetscha Jaungad steht hier dem Publikum für Fragen zu Verfügung und
berichtet über das Leben in seiner Heimat, dem autonomen Kreis der Jamal
Nenzen (mit Film).

Ein Veranstaltungsreihe der Arbeitsgemeinschaft Arktis und Subarktis
in Kooperation mit:
Bezirksvertretung Wieden
Institut für Slawistik, Univ. Wien
Gallery M
Ges. für bedrohte Völker
Wien Kultur
Inst. f. Kultur- und Sozialanthropologie, Univ. Wien
Institutsgruppe Slawistik, Univ. Wien
Russisches Kulturinstitut Wien
RAIPON
Aut. Gebiet d. Jamalnenzen

Downloadmaterialien zu den Veranstaltungen:
Postkarte (1,9 Mb)