Daniela Cajiao Vargas

Daniela Cajiao Vargas is a post-doctoral researcher at Wageningen University & Research (WUR), affiliated with the Environmental Policy Group. Previously, she conducted post-doctoral research at North Carolina State University (USA) until January 2023. Her work focuses on Antarctic tourism's environmental implications, governance under the Antarctic Treaty System, and sustainable management practices. Key research areas include ecological assessments, policy analysis, and the socio-environmental dynamics of transitory communities in Antarctica.

Her expertise spans ecological assessment, nature conservation, sustainability, and environmental management, with a geographic emphasis on the Antarctic Peninsula. She contributed to the ANTARC-SHIP project, exploring environmental stewardship practices in Antarctic tourism and science through fieldwork in Uruguayan and Spanish research stations. This research informs decision-making at the Antarctic Treaty System.

Cajiao Vargas has authored or co-authored several peer-reviewed articles analyzing tourism impacts, policy effectiveness, and conservation strategies in Antarctica. Her work integrates interdisciplinary methods, including meta-analysis, behavioral observation, and stakeholder interviews. Blogs chronicling her Antarctic expeditions (2023–2024) highlight collaborative fieldwork and community engagement efforts.