Sean Desjardins

S.P.A. (Sean) Desjardins is an Assistant Professor of Anthropological Archaeology at the University of Groningen’s Faculty of Arts, affiliated with the Arctic and Antarctic studies department. His research focuses on long-term human-environment relationships in the circumpolar Arctic, particularly Indigenous histories of Inuit and Tuniit (Late Dorset Pre-Inuit) communities. He holds positions at the Canadian Museum of Nature and represents the Netherlands in the Arctic Council’s Sustainable Development Working Group, addressing cultural sustainability and food security.

Education: PhD in Anthropology (McGill University, 2017), MSc in Anthropology/Archaeology (University of Toronto, 2008), BA in Anthropology (New College of Florida, 2004). His work integrates Indigenous knowledge systems, ethnoarchaeology, and zooarchaeology, often employing transdisciplinary methodologies.

Research interests include Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (Indigenous knowledge), climate change impacts on subsistence practices, and co-creation methodologies with Arctic communities. His projects, such as the ERC-funded TRACES-Foxe Basin initiative and the CONTACT project on Norse chronology, highlight interdisciplinary approaches to Arctic archaeology.

Sean has received prestigious grants including the ERC Starting Grant and NWO Veni, and has authored over 50 publications. His work frequently bridges archaeology, ecology, and policy, with articles exploring walrus exploitation, genetic diversity of Arctic species, and Indigenous cultural resilience.

He teaches courses on archaeological theory, Arctic anthropology, and oversees multiple PhD projects. His ancillary roles include editorial board memberships and leadership in Arctic research networks, emphasizing sustainable development and cultural preservation in the North.