Signe Mellemgaard

Signe Mellemgaard serves as an Associate Professor at the SAXO-Institute within the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Copenhagen, specializing in the historical and ethnological dimensions of human-nature relationships. Her work bridges cultural theory, environmental history, and agricultural studies with a focus on Scandinavian contexts from the 18th century to contemporary sustainability transitions.

Her research interrogates how natural history practices—spanning parish topographies, herbaria, and agricultural reforms—reflect evolving views of nature across Denmark-Norway (c. 1750-1820). Current projects include analyzing herbaria as colonial contact zones (funded by Augustinusfonden) and investigating ownership models in sustainable agriculture. She emphasizes micro-historical perspectives, cultural exchange in scientific networks, and the museology of natural history collections.

Analysis of her 2019-2023 publications reveals consistent engagement with historical geography, ethnological science studies, and agrarian transformations. Her work frequently decodes textual practices in topographical literature, ownership structures in farming, and the interplay between scientific documentation and societal change.

Her recognition includes:

• Teacher of the Year, Ethnology, University of Copenhagen (2023)

Mellemgaard actively shapes research through the Augustinusfonden-supported 'Field/Work in the Archive' project and agricultural ownership studies. She serves on editorial boards for Kulturstudier and Tidsskrift for kulturforskning, contributes to the CoRe Centre's advisory board, and participates in university committees including the SAXO-Institute Study Board and Censor Corps for Educational Sciences.

Her academic service extends to peer review for journals like Bibliotek for Læger and Scandinavian Journal of History, demonstrating sustained engagement with historical and ethnological scholarship communities.