Welcome Samantha Dwinnell to the Artica Svalbard Team!

Photo by Catherine Lemblé

We’re very pleased to welcome Samantha Dwinnell to the Artica Svalbard team! Samantha will be stepping in to support our residency programme and community activities over the next few months, covering the role previously held by Lena von Goedeke.

Samantha is an ecologist and conservationist whose work explores the impact of human activity on the relationships between wildlife and their environment. Since 2021, she has been based in Svalbard, pursuing a PhD on how climate change is affecting the behaviour and nutrition of Svalbard reindeer at the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS).

Alongside her scientific work, Samantha brings a strong background in science communication and visual storytelling. She values the integration of art and science as a way to engage wider audiences and create new ways of understanding the natural world.

During her time at Artica, Samantha aims to help build stronger connections between Longyearbyen’s scientific and artistic communities, fostering cross-disciplinary collaborations that enhance how we share human interpretations of the Arctic environment.

We’d also like to extend a warm thank-you to Lena von Goedeke for her thoughtful and generous contributions to Artica over the past months — supporting residents, guiding creative projects, and helping to hold our community together with care and insight.

Welcome, Samantha — we’re excited to have you with us!