Morten Meldgaard

Morten Meldgaard is a Professor of Arctic environmental history at the University of Copenhagen's Faculty of Science, with dual affiliation as Professor at the Natural History Museum of Denmark's Center for GeoGenetics and Adjunct Professor at Ilisimatusarfik/University of Greenland. Born on November 14, 1956, Meldgaard holds Greenlandic/Danish citizenship and has accumulated over 25 years of extensive experience in science administration, fundraising, international collaboration, and leadership in Arctic research institutions.

Meldgaard's academic credentials include:

• Dr. Phil. (2005), Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen
• PhD in Biology (1990), Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen
• MA in Biology (1985), Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen

Professor Meldgaard's research focuses on Arctic environmental history, with particular emphasis on resource dynamics, climate change, and human adaptation through time. His interdisciplinary approach integrates archaeology, history, ethnohistory with population biology, macro ecology, and ancient DNA studies. He has conducted more than 20 field seasons across Greenland, Canada, Alaska, Peru, Malaysia, and Denmark. His primary research areas include Arctic zoology, resource utilization in the Arctic, and climate and environmental history, with specific projects on caribou/reindeer zoogeography, taxonomy and population dynamics, and resource utilization in West Greenland.

Meldgaard's recent publications demonstrate strong trends in ancient DNA analysis applied to Arctic and Northern European history. His work frequently appears in high-impact journals like Nature, Science, and PNAS, with research focusing on population genetics of ancient humans and animals, evolutionary adaptations to Arctic environments, and long-term resource economies. His collaborative network spans numerous institutions across multiple countries, reflecting his commitment to international Arctic research.

Among his notable scientific achievements are:

• Schibbyeske Præmie (1989) for the publication "The Great Auk, Pinguinus impennis (L.) in Greenland"
• Galathea Medal (2009)

Meldgaard has supervised numerous BSc, MSc, and PhD students as well as Post Docs throughout his career. His administrative accomplishments include fundraising 950 million Dkr to build a new Natural History Museum in Denmark, coordinating the Galathea 3 expedition (a circumnavigation of the world with approximately 70 research projects), and helping establish the Zackenberg Field Station in Greenland. He has been instrumental in developing science and educational collaboration between Denmark, Greenland, and Arctic nations.

Professor Meldgaard maintains active field research in Greenland, including excavations at Qajaa in Disko Bay and archaeological investigations in Northeast Greenland. His work bridges natural science and humanities approaches to understand long-term human-environment interactions in the Arctic, with implications for contemporary climate challenges.