UCR English professor Adriana Craciun has been awarded the Fulbright Scholar Award for the 2015-2016 school year. The award will consist of a one-year professorship at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, to support Craciun’s research on the Arctic Enlightenment.
The professor has been studying arctic exploration literature for 10 years, and is intending to connect the history of the Enlightenment with the impact of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, which holds seeds from all known species of trees on the planet. In addition, her research will deal with the relationship between explorers and the indigenous people who inhabited the region.
“Another important difference that becomes clear when we look at European exploration of the Arctic is the changing role and significance of indigenous people over several centuries,” Craciun explained, adding that the research will be included in her upcoming book, “Writing Arctic Disaster,” which will come out this year.
“I’m thrilled to have received this Fulbright Visiting Professorship. It feels great to start a new project in this way, and I’m looking forward to the new interdisciplinary possibilities that visiting Edinburgh will open up for my work and teaching,” Craciun stated.
