Publications

You can also see a full list of my publications on my Research Gate profile.

Coming Home: Exploring island connections and return migration among the Scottish islands diaspora

2025 – Published. Author: Gow, K.
Thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Human Geography, University of Aberdeen. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.15619.16160

The full thesis from my PhD presents my full research findings* covering the areas below. My findings challenge assumptions that those who leave the islands are lost to their communities, instead positioning the Scottish islands diaspora as an extended and engaged community with potential to contribute at a distance or help counter depopulation via return migration. For those who return, the research identifies that emotional ties, identity, and place attachment often outweigh economic or practical considerations.

*For those not used to reading academic work – don’t be put off by the size. There is a comprehensive contents list at the front and it is perfectly fine to scan this and head straight for the bits which catch your eye. There will be references in the text to other parts of the thesis and wider work if you want to read more on a topic.

Rethinking rural: why the city isn’t always the centre

2025 – Published. Author – Gow, K.
ReSourcE Magazine, Spring / Summer 2025, p. 12. The Royal Society of Edinburgh.

A short article examining how rural and island areas are officially classified in Scotland, and advocating for improved awareness of the diversity of these areas.

Uncovering attributes of an internal Islands Diaspora: Connections and Aspirations to Return

2024 – Published. Authors – Gow, K., Philip, L., Wilson, R., Duffy, P., Currie, M.
Shima, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 43-67. DOI: 10.21463/shima.219

The first academic article covering the results of my survey with the Scottish Islands Diaspora, carried out in late 2022. The paper illustrates how sub-national diasporas can exhibit a continued connection to a ‘homeland’ including taking an active interest in a ‘home’ island’s future and participating in shared cultural practices that bind individuals together within the diaspora over a sustained period. In doing so the paper finds that the Scottish islands diaspora carries many of the hallmarks of its transnational counterparts and highlights how this group has the potential to contribute to the future of Scotland’s islands both at a distance and, potentially, via return migration.

Gow’s Typology of Scotland’s Islands: Technical notes

2023 – Published. Authors – Gow, K., Currie, M., Duffy, P., Wilson, R., Philip, L. J.
University of Aberdeen. 17 pages. DOI: 10.57064/2164/22333

Technical notes on the development of Gow’s Typology of Scotland’s islands which is based on factors of capacity and reliance. The document provides information on the framework used to develop the typology, the factors of capacity and reliance considered, and the seven types of islands identified: Connected Independent Islands, Fragile Islands, Independent Hub Islands, Independent Outer Isles, Reliant Inner Isles, Reliant Outer Isles, and Semi-Reliant Islands.

Navigating Digital Ethics for Rural Research: Guidelines and recommendations for researchers and administrators of social media groups

2023 – Published. Authors – Mayne, A., Noble, C., Duffy, P., Gow, K., Glasgow, A., Melrose, R., O’Neill, K., Reid, J., Valero, D.
19 pages. DOI: 10.57064/2164/22326

A report on participatory research carried out as part of a project funded by the British Academy Early Career Research Network Scotland Hub Seed Fund 2023. This research explored ethical and practical considerations around working with social media groups for research.

A new initiative for rural tourism: How IsleHoliday plans to help rebalance the sector

2023 – Published. Authors – Gow, K., Philip, L. J.
Blog post, Geography Directions.

A report highlighting concerns over how the impact of tourism in economically fragile rural areas of Scotland has led to the development of a new initiative designed to help island communities gain more value from tourism in their area.