Alison Cathcart

Professor Alison Cathcart is a historian specializing in early modern Scotland and Ireland, focusing on communities at the intersection of land and sea. She currently serves as Professor of History at the University of Stirling, where she will assume the role of Head of the Division of History, Heritage and Politics in August 2023. Her academic journey includes positions at the University of St Andrews, University of Strathclyde, and teaching roles across multiple institutions. She holds a BA (Hons) and PhD in History from the University of Aberdeen (1996, 2001).

Her research emphasizes archipelagic connections between Scotland and Ireland, exploring maritime communities' roles in political, economic, and environmental contexts. Key projects include analyses of North Channel plantation policies (c.1550–1625), island communities' interactions with supra-national frameworks, and historical sustainability of fishing practices. She collaborates with marine scientists to integrate regression modeling into historical research.

Recent presentations include keynote lectures on Scottish maritime history and interdisciplinary work on coastal environments. Awards include a 2021 Teaching Impact Award (Highly Commended) and 2022 Research Culture Award nomination for mentorship. She serves on editorial boards for Archipelagic Studies (Peter Lang) and the Journal of the North Atlantic, and chairs committees for the British Academy's Records of Social and Economic History.

Her consultancy includes BBC Radio 4's Open Country on North Channel history. She has held external examiner roles at multiple universities, including Aberdeen, Glasgow, and the University of the Highlands and Islands. Professional memberships include Fellowships of the Higher Education Academy and Royal Historical Society.