Profile
Niki Alsford
-
About Me:
I’m an anthropologist and geographer. I work with island communities to learn their stories and help plan for a changing world 🌊🗺️.
-
Read more
I love exploring the world and learning from the people I meet along the way. As an anthropologist and geographer, I work closely with island communities to understand their stories, their knowledge, and how they live with nature. I’ve spent time in places like Taiwan, Papua New Guinea, and the Pacific Islands, listening to people’s experiences and learning how the past and present are connected.
When I’m not working, I enjoy being outdoors—diving, travelling, and discovering new landscapes. I also love history, myths, and storytelling, which often inspire my teaching and research.
-
How I use Geography in my work:
My work looks at how people live with the land, sea, and climate—just like when you learn about places, environments, and cultures at school. I study how geography shapes lives and how people adapt to change.
-
My Work:
I study how people and places are connected, especially on islands. My work looks at how communities live with nature and adapt to change.
-
Read more
I explore how people live with and understand the world around them. My work focuses on islands and coastal communities, looking at how they adapt to changes in nature, like rising sea levels or volcanic activity. I work with local people to learn from their knowledge and experiences, and I connect this with scientific research to build a bigger picture. This is called co-created research—it means working together to share and shape ideas, rather than studying people from the outside.
-
Education:
I studied Anthropology at University of Southampton, Asia Pacific Studies at National Chengchi University in Taiwan, and completed my PhD at SOAS University of London. That’s where my journey as a researcher and explorer really began.
-
Qualifications:
BSc (Hons) Southampton University
MA National Chengchi University
PhD SOAS University of London
-
Current Job:
Professor of Anthropology and Human Geography, University of Lancashire
-
My Interview
-
How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Island-exploring anthropologist and geographer
What did you want to be after you left school?
An Anthropologist
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Of course not!
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
I cannot imagine not doing this job
What's your favourite food?
All food
-
Comments