Notes from the field: An interdisciplinary perspective on the experiences, challenges and solutions for conducting fieldwork in glacial and periglacial environments

Interdisciplinary research approaches are critical to understanding the profound shifts in glacial and periglacial environments due to climate change. However, conducting fieldwork in these geographies often involves navigating the complexities of situated narratives, traditionally dominated by masculinist and geoscience-centered approaches. In this commentary, using feminist glaciology as a lens for understanding the socio-environmental dynamics within the cryosphere, we reflect on the significance of interdisciplinary and cross-boundary research. Drawing from three different yet interconnected fieldwork experiences—nature-based tourism research in Patagonia, geophysical surveys in High Mountain Asia, and engaging with the green transition and indigenous perspectives in the European Arctic—we explore the challenges and solutions of doing research in these extreme environments while reflecting on positionality, knowledge production, and the need for diverse perspectives in the climate crisis.

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Publication Details

Journal
Nordia Geographical Publications
Published
2026-03-13
DOI
https://doi.org/10.30671/nordia.163065
Primary Topic
Polar Research and Ecology
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Notes from the field: An interdisciplinary perspective on the experiences, challenges and solutions for conducting fieldwork in glacial and periglacial environments

Benoît Lauzon, Pamela Bachmann-Vargas, Eleni Kavvatha, Virginija Popovaitė et al.
Nordia Geographical Publications
Polar Research and Ecology
article

Notes from the field: An interdisciplinary perspective on the experiences, challenges and solutions for conducting fieldwork in glacial and periglacial environments

Benoît Lauzon, Pamela Bachmann-Vargas, Eleni Kavvatha, Virginija Popovaitė, Ella Wood, Seira Duncan, Anna Hübner
article en

Abstract

Interdisciplinary research approaches are critical to understanding the profound shifts in glacial and periglacial environments due to climate change. However, conducting fieldwork in these geographies often involves navigating the complexities of situated narratives, traditionally dominated by masculinist and geoscience-centered approaches. In this commentary, using feminist glaciology as a lens for understanding the socio-environmental dynamics within the cryosphere, we reflect on the significance of interdisciplinary and cross-boundary research. Drawing from three different yet interconnected fieldwork experiences—nature-based tourism research in Patagonia, geophysical surveys in High Mountain Asia, and engaging with the green transition and indigenous perspectives in the European Arctic—we explore the challenges and solutions of doing research in these extreme environments while reflecting on positionality, knowledge production, and the need for diverse perspectives in the climate crisis.

Nordia Geographical Publications
University of Ottawa (CA), Institute of Geography (KZ), UCLouvain Saint-Louis Brussels (BE), Pacific Engineering (United States) (US), Mid Sweden University (SE), Umeå University (SE), University of Lapland (FI)
ArcticNet, Umeå Universitet
Openalex Percentile: Top 29%
Polar Research and Ecology
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