Gunnar Garfors

In Residence: January - February 2027

Gunnar Garfors is a Norwegian author, journalist and traveller whose work explores places, people and perspectives from around the world. He has spent time in every country on Earth, experiences that have informed seven books, including three bestsellers, as well as a podcast and hundreds of talks internationally. Before becoming a full-time writer, Garfors worked for more than 20 years at the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK). His work and travels have been featured by media including the BBC, CNN and The Guardian.

During his residency at Artica, Gunnar will be researching his forthcoming book, Outskirts, which explores how climate change is affecting two of the world’s northernmost and southernmost island societies: Svalbard and the Falkland Islands.

In Svalbard, Gunnar will speak with people who have lived in the archipelago over time, gathering perspectives on how a rapidly changing climate is shaping both the physical environment and people’s understanding of their place within it. His research will consider how communities respond psychologically and socially to dramatic environmental change: whether it creates a sense of despair or instead motivates people to act, adapt and engage.

Alongside interviews and conversations, Gunnar will draw on his own experiences of everyday life in Svalbard and hopes to explore communities and landscapes beyond Longyearbyen. Through Outskirts, he aims to consider not only what climate change does to places, but how living with visible and accelerating change might alter our perceptions of responsibility, hope and humanity.

Website: http://garfors.com
Instagram: @garfors