Welcoming Ragnhild Bjørnsen to Artica Svalbard

This month we’re pleased to welcome researcher and writer Ragnhild Bjørnsen to Longyearbyen for her October residency with Artica Svalbard. Ragnhild was nominated by the Norwegian Non-Fiction Writers and Translators Association (NFFO) and brings a rich background in childhood studies and psychological anthropology.

Her research focuses on the experiences of children and youth living in conditions of hypermobility—where families, communities, or institutions are in constant motion. Drawing on case studies including the Norwegian Foreign Service and Longyearbyen’s socially transient population, her work explores how global politics and institutional structures shape young people’s lives, relationships, and sense of belonging in remote or temporary settings.

During her time in Svalbard, Ragnhild will continue her ongoing research with adolescents in Longyearbyen, investigating how high community turnover affects their social connections and everyday experiences. She will also host a citizen science workshop, inviting young people and adults to discuss her findings and reflect on future pathways for youth well-being in the Arctic.

Alongside this, Ragnhild will conduct interviews with local professionals who work with children and young people. These conversations will contribute to a legal and policy-focused analysis of how children’s rights are upheld—or constrained—within the unique legal framework of Svalbard.

We’re delighted to host Ragnhild in Longyearbyen and look forward to following her work as it develops throughout the residency.