Phillip Vannini

Phillip Vannini is a Professor of Communication & Culture at Royal Roads University, specializing in ethnography, documentary filmmaking, and sensory studies. He has conducted fieldwork in remote locations globally, including the Galapagos Islands, Patagonian glaciers, and underwater hotels. His research focuses on wildness, more-than-human geographies, and innovative ethnographic representation.

Education: PhD in Sociology (2004, Washington State University), MA in Communication (1999), BA (1998, City University of Seattle).

Research emphasizes multisensory ethnography and public dissemination of qualitative findings. Notable projects include studies on off-grid living, political ecology of wilderness, and underwater hospitality. He directed films like In the Name of Wild and Our Teacher, blending academic rigor with artistic storytelling.

Awards include multiple nominations for the Kelly Outstanding Teaching Award (2007, 2010). He served as Canada Research Chair in Public Ethnography and Innovative Learning (2010–2021). His work bridges academia and broader audiences through films, books, and participatory methodologies.

Teaching focuses on research methods and visual media, mentoring students in creative thesis projects. Current research explores underwater architecture’s ethical implications and pandemic-era remoteness. Collaborations include work with Indigenous communities, conservationists, and architects worldwide.