Sophia Perdikaris

I am an environmental archaeologist with a specialty in animal bones from archaeological sites-zooarchaeology. I am interested in people – environment interactions through time and the response of both to big climatic events. I have worked in Northern Norway and Iceland concentrating on the transition from the Viking Age to medieval times and how the early commercialization of the cod fisheries (AD 1200) affected the people and economy of the area. For the last 13 years I have been focusing on the island of Barbuda in the Caribbean where I explore how heritage work can inform sustainability questions for the future. Environmental sustainability is a challenge for every community, including communities in Antigua and Barbuda and this was tragically highlighted by the aftermath of hurricane Irma in 2017. Sustainability means understanding human and environmental change over time: what is changing, how it is changing, why it is changing, and what we can do to mitigate change, adapt to change, or both. By using a transdisciplinary approach sustainability projects combining the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and the arts in a collaborative research perspective that connects scientists, local communities, and youth can maximize our understanding and response. Whether in the field or at home at UNL as chair of the Anthropology Department, Interim Director of Geography and Interim Director of Global Studies, I like to apply the transdisciplinary approach. This is further highlighted by my involvement as founding director of a new School - The School of Global Integrative Studies encompassing all three units that I currently lead. The SGIS proposal is now under review and we hope to be moving forward with this over 2019/20. I look forward to having the UNL team grow and continue to make meaningful contributions to our community through collaborative science of relevance. Come joins us at UNL!