Kati Lindström

I am a scholar of global environmental history, polar governance and heritage, and participate in international networks connecting science, heritage and environmental governance. I have a background in semiotics, anthropology, environmental history and geography, and was trained at the University of Kyoto (Japan) and University of Tartu (Estonia). I hold a docent degree in the history of science, technology and environment, with specialization environmental humanities and uses of history from KTH from 2021. 

At KTH, I hold the office of the Director of Doctoral Studies in the Division of History of Science, Tehcnology and Environment and belong to the Steering Group of the Division. 

In my academic work, I have been interested in the interplay of personal and public in environmental perception, more precisely in how individual experiences and cultural stereotypes influence the designation and management of natural and cultural heritage sites (meant to be a scientific practice), and vice versa? How is the site's value defined, and what is considered worthy of protection? What is considered sacrificeable? Most of my work has been carried out in Japan, Antarctica and Estonia.

At KTH, I am currently leading the Swedish Research Council-financed project Saving Antarctica? Civil society on a continent without citizens that studies the influence of environmental non-profit organisations on Antarctic governance. I am also a researcher and doctoral studies coordinator at the Centre of Excellence for Anthropocene History, financed by Swedish Research Council (PI Sabine Höhler), and coordinate the humanities and social sciences component and KTH engagement in the Swedish national polar research school SEAL, School of Excellence in Arctic and Antarctic Learning.  

In my advocacy work, I am deeply engaged with Antarctic research and heritage issues. I am a vice-Chair of the Polar Research Committee of the Estonian Academy of Sciences, the Contact Point of the Republic of Estonia to the Antarctic Treaty System, as well as Vice President and the Antarctic Treaty System Liaison Officer of the ICOMOS International Polar Heritage Committee. I am a member of the Standing Committee on Humanities and Social Sciences of the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research (SCAR), and Estonian alternate representative to the European Polar Board.  I am an active member of Estonian ICOMOS. I am a member of the Editorial Board of Environment and History (White Horse Press), the coordinator of the emerging Baltic Environmental Humanities and Social Sciences Network (BALTEHUMS), and a founding member of the Estonian Centre for Environmental History since 2011. Previously, I have held many offices at the European Society of Environmental History (ESEH), including 3 terms as a board member and the Regional representative for the Baltic States.