Daniela Liggett

Dr. Daniela Liggett serves as an Associate Professor at the University of Canterbury's Gateway Antarctica, where she combines her expertise in environmental management, Antarctic politics, and tourism research. Her current research portfolio spans multiple critical areas of Antarctic studies, including human impacts in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctic futures, gateway cities, and geopolitical decision-making processes. As a social scientist deeply involved in polar research integration, she has made significant contributions to the World Meteorological Organization's Polar Prediction Project, examining the relationships between weather information providers and users. Her work has been instrumental in embedding humanities and social sciences into Antarctic research programs, moving beyond traditional roles of science communication to demonstrate the essential value of social science perspectives in polar research. Through her involvement with various Antarctic research initiatives, she has helped shape understanding of human engagement with the Antarctic region, particularly in areas of environmental management and tourism politics. Her expertise extends to studying the complex interplay between scientific research, policy-making, and environmental protection in the Antarctic context.