Edvard Hviding

Edvard Hviding is a Professor of Social Anthropology at the University of Bergen and founding director of the Bergen Pacific Studies Research Group. He also serves as an Honorary Adjunct Professor at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji. His work focuses on Pacific Studies, with a particular emphasis on environmental anthropology, maritime sovereignty, and climate change. Hviding has conducted extensive fieldwork in Solomon Islands since 1986, exploring topics such as customary tenure systems, kinship structures, and the impact of globalization on Pacific societies. He leads major international projects like the OCEANSTATES initiative (2018–2023), funded by Norway’s Research Council. His research integrates interdisciplinary approaches, collaborating with geographers and policymakers to address climate diplomacy and sustainable development.

Education: PhD and MA from the University of Bergen. He has held roles such as Chair of the Association for Social Anthropology in Oceania (ASAO, 2012–2013) and has advised UNESCO and Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Pacific environmental and educational initiatives. His research interests span vernacular environmental education, customary marine tenure, and the intersection of local knowledge with global policy frameworks.

Research Highlights:

• Over 75 journal articles and eight authored/edited books, including Guardians of Marovo Lagoon and Reef and Rainforest.
• Recipient of the Silver Medal of the Order of Solomon Islands (2010) for contributions to environmental education.
• Key projects: ECOPAS (EU-funded), Pacific Alternatives (Norwegian Research Council), and SDG Bergen’s Science Advice platform.

His publications analyze Pacific Islanders’ adaptive strategies to environmental and social changes, emphasizing cultural resilience and the role of traditional knowledge in global contexts.