معرفی
Valdimar Tr. Hafstein is an Associate Professor at the University of Iceland's Department of Ethnology, Folklore, and Museum Studies, and currently serves as President of SIEF (International Society for Ethnology and Folklore). He has held visiting professorships at UC Berkeley, University of Gothenburg, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, and Georg-August Universität Göttingen, alongside a research fellowship at NYU's Institute for Advanced Studies. Previously, he chaired Iceland's UNESCO Commission (2011-2012).
His research focuses on cultural heritage, ethnology, and folklore, with particular attention to UNESCO's role in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage. His work bridges academic scholarship with international policy, emphasizing the intersection of heritage, religion, and community.
Valdimar actively participates in global heritage discussions, organizing sessions on topics like 'Preservation as Salvation' and 'Heritage vs Property.' He has contributed to debates on heritage's role in shaping social dynamics, rights, and urban development, particularly in Montreal and Turkey.
