The discussions have focussed on the interests of the members, such as islandness, fisheries and coastal development, tourism, archaeology, sustainable island communities and intangible cultural heritage.
In the first meeting Owe Ronström talked about the importance of thinking with islands and that it was vital to develop and promote the transnational nature of island studies in the north, in order to break out of limited national thinking. He further suggested that we should help each other to develop centres of island studies.
In the second meeting the exploitation of natural resources and the impact of tourism on the landscape, the environment and the well-being of communities featured in the discussion. Frank Rennie summed things up by suggesting that manifold island resources should be capitalised on in a way that benefits the island communities themselves as well as tourists. Helene Martinsson-Wallin suggested that members might like to participate in the Uppsala University seminars on sustainability, providing an island perspective.
In the third meeting Andrew Jennings told the participants about his workshops exploring Scottish Island Futures in 2050 and suggested this might be something that others would like to develop in their own island communities. Ilan Kelman and Roxane Permar suggested that island based solastalgia would be an important theme for further development. Discussion also focused on intangible cultural heritage and the ‘Yarns and Yarns’ webinar series. This will bring together knitters and storytellers virtually around the North Atlantic.
The first webinar will be held on the 24th January and will be led by Dale Jarvis from Heritage Newfoundland and it will be partnering with the library in St Johns.