Youth, Belonging and Turnover: Ragnhild Bjørnsen’s Research in Longyearbyen
During her October residency, childhood studies researcher Ragnhild Bjørnsen continued her ongoing work on how Longyearbyen’s unusually high turnover affects young people’s friendships, social relationships, and sense of belonging. Her research, grounded in psychological anthropology, focuses on children and youth living in highly mobile environments.
As part of her residency, Ragnhild held a workshop at Longyearbyen School. Students were invited to respond to statements drawn from texts written by pupils in 2023, reflecting on the emotional challenges of constantly adapting to new classmates and saying goodbye to departing friends. The students added their own experiences and perspectives, contributing comments on large sheets of paper and post-it notes.
Photos: Longyearbyen Youth Council during their visit to Artica. Credit: David Samuel Stern.
Later that week, the Longyearbyen Youth Council chose to hold their monthly meeting at Artica, using the material from the school workshop as a starting point for conversation, the meeting served as a follow-up discussion focused on the same themes. The group explored how frequent turnover—often shaped by short-term contracts or families planning temporary stays—affects their daily lives. They also discussed the emotional labour of repeatedly integrating newcomers, and how adult decisions shape youth wellbeing in ways young people cannot influence.
The Youth Council has been actively advocating for improved mental health services in Longyearbyen, and they recognised that Ragnhild’s research supports their ongoing efforts. The meeting at Artica created a space for structured reflection, allowing them to connect personal experiences with broader social and structural dynamics in the community.
Ragnhild Bjørnsen was nominated for her residency at Artica Svalbard by Norsk faglitterær forfatter- og oversetterforening (NFFO).