Antarctic Animal Atmospheres: An Environmental History of Bird Island

I propose to study the way that human and non-human animals have interacted and defined their inhabited spaces in
Antarctica. I will examine one ecological space and the complex interactions between human and non-human animals
that occur there across time. I propose to conduct this research on Bird Island in collaboration with the long-term High
Predator Monitoring Program (HPMP) conducted by the British Antarctic Survey. The research questions I propose are:
What is the animal atmosphere created and experienced by albatross and gentoo populations on Bird Island? How have
human attitudes, discourses and behaviours influenced this atmosphere over time? I aim to bring into conversation the
fields of more-than-human geography and ethnography, environmental history and ornithological scientific research. The
objective of this research project is to understand the relationships within and influences upon a biodiverse Antarctic
environment over time. By focussing on local power relationships on Bird Island this research will aim to contribute a new
perspective to discussions of Antarctic governance and scientific practice. By understanding both human and non-human
animals as actors within a biodiverse Antarctic environment this research will seek to reframe discussions of Antarctic
'exceptionalism' to instead focus upon the development of a specific ecological spaces. In doing so, I will question the
implications of defining Antarctica as a 'continent for science'.