My name is Kirsten and I am an islander and islands researcher living and working in the Isle of Jura in Scotland. I have worked and volunteered for a number of island projects over the years – from housing and energy to tourism and the arts – and have recently completed a PhD examining island connections and return migration in the Scottish island context.
PhD research
For my PhD with University of Aberdeen and the James Hutton Institute I examined how those who move away from Scotland’s islands maintain connections to the island, the aspiration to return to live in an island among this group, and the realities of return. As part of the research I conducted a survey with 505 people with connections to Scotland’s islands who were not living in an island at the time (members of the Scottish islands disapora), and focus groups and interviews with a 29 individuals who were current or former members of the diaspora.
My findings challenge assumptions that those who leave the islands are lost to their communities, instead highlighting that the diaspora might be thought of as an extended and engaged community with potential to contribute at a distance or help counter depopulation via return migration. It also identified that, for those who return, emotional ties, identity, and place attachment often outweigh economic or practical considerations.
Find out more about my PhD research or check out my wider publications.
Islands Researcher 