Podcast Summary: New Books Network

Episode: Ilan Kelman, "Antarcticness: Inspirations and Imaginaries" (UCL Press, 2022)
Host: Stentor Danielson
Guest: Ilan Kelman
Date: November 23, 2025

Overview

This episode features a conversation between host Stentor Danielson and Ilan Kelman, editor of the book "Antarcticness: Inspirations and Imaginaries." The discussion explores the multifaceted concept of "Antarcticness," the unique status of Antarctica globally, and how the book brings together diverse contributors to share scientific, artistic, and personal perspectives on the continent. Kelman discusses the themes of imperialism, environment, and gender in relation to Antarctica, as well as his motivations and hopes for the future of Antarctic studies.

Main Discussion Points and Insights

Background and Motivation

• Ilan Kelman’s Background
  • Professor at University College London (UCL) in Disasters and Health, working in both the Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction and the Institute for Global Health. Also affiliated with the University of Agder in Norway, a country with polar territorial interests.
  • Core research interests include island studies, disaster-health linkages, and remote environments.
  • Motivation for the book: connecting various disciplines to explore how Antarctica is imagined and what it means for humanity, both geopolitically and personally.
  • Quote:

    "Antarctica as a continent is a huge island... I realized how much comes from people living in the supposedly remote places, how much of our imagination comes from thinking about places we may never be able to travel to." — Ilan Kelman (03:40)

Defining "Antarcticness"

• The Concept
  • "Antarcticness" as a word aims to encapsulate the ways in which people, both those who have and haven’t been there, imagine, perceive, and are inspired by Antarctica.
  • The term is deliberately broad and invites diverse contributions—scientific, artistic, reflective, and poetic.
  • The book features chapters including paintings, photo essays, poems, and more traditional academic papers.
  • Quote:

    "Not just a continent, not just a place, not just south of 60 degrees south, but really trying to say, this is what it means to humanity, this is what it means to the planet, and this is why it's important." — Ilan Kelman (08:21)

Intended Audience

• Wide Outreach with Practical Limits
  • The book is open access (free PDF download), aiming to reach everyone, but particularly those with some science or art literacy—whether professionals, students, or curious laypeople.
  • Hopes to inspire non-specialists and bring hope in difficult global times by showcasing the inspirational potential of science and art together.
  • Quote:

    "We are hoping to reach out to people who are already engaged in science and art, but maybe not in these disciplines, not in these areas, but certainly beyond that, much wider." — Ilan Kelman (11:29)

Key Themes Across the Book

1. Imperialism & Colonialism

[13:56–19:54]

• Antarctica’s Unique Status
  • No indigenous peoples, harsh and remote, yet historically dominated by imperialist and colonialist power struggles for control.
  • The Antarctic Treaty neither recognizes nor denies territorial claims, creating a unique legal and political limbo.
  • Authors critically reflect on past imperialist attitudes but focus on moving toward a more collaborative, non-exploitative future.
• Memorable Contrast:
  • Race to the South Pole: Amundsen (Norway) vs. Scott (UK) framed as a competition for national glory, contrasted with the first women at the South Pole linking arms and stepping out together.
  • Quote:

    "[Imperialism] is really about control... which for Antarctica [was] wide open, because it's a land without people. And so a lot of the authors recognize this... But now it's time to move on, to recognize... how we can do better." — Ilan Kelman (14:37)

2. Environmentalism & the Antarctic Environment

[21:23–26:19]

• Dual Perceptions: Harshness & Fragility
  • Chapters include photographic essays capturing both the continent's forbidding landscapes and its unexpected beauty.
  • Artistic and scientific views show Antarctica as not only threatening to humans, but home to thriving life forms (animals, plants, microbes).
  • Some contributors address climate change, but the book places this within a broader context of environmental and imaginative engagement.
  • Quote:

    "The environment controls us. We are the ones who are subsumed by what the environment does to us. And it's both good and bad. Yes, it can kill... but it's also incredibly inspiring." — Ilan Kelman (24:45)

3. Gender and Antarctic Narratives

[27:19–30:04]

• Historic Gender Gaps
  • Antarctic life, especially between 1942 and 1982, was heavily masculine and even excluded women outright.
  • Some chapters, particularly on team dynamics and artistic representation, hint at gendered experiences, but the topic is more subtext than explicit.
  • Notably, in the Homeward Bound program, the planet is feminized, prompting open questions about the meaning and implications of gendered language and presence.
  • Quote:

    "Women, absolutely ridiculously, were banned from the continent for quite a while... It is an area to think further about and try and see how much we still gender Antarctica and Antarcticness and how much we don't." — Ilan Kelman (27:52)

4. The Editorial Process

[30:04–32:38]

• Building Diversity and Synergy
  • The editing process was described as a “pleasure”—bringing together a wide range of contributors, balancing autonomy and coherence.
  • The aim was to let differences flourish while ensuring the whole collection exposed and explored thematic connections.
  • Quote:

    “This is why being a scientist, having a scientific career, is just amazing. Every day, every hour can be different... We have the option of saying, you know, this just didn’t work. Let me try five other ways and then I'll pick the best.” — Ilan Kelman (31:19)

5. Future Directions for "Antarcticness"

[32:38–36:40]

• Encouraging Ongoing Engagement
  • The conclusion titled "Not Concluding Antarcticness" signals that the exploration is just beginning and invites others to expand, critique, and improve upon the work.
  • Comparison with Kelman’s previous edited volume, "Arcticness," and the open challenge to think about "polarness"—potentially unifying the poles in one conceptual framework.
  • The Antarctic Flags Project is highlighted as an allegory for inspiring global youth and continuing the process of engagement.
  • Quote:

    “The product of a book is a process. But the end state of that volume is simply part of the process. I therefore want people to take it, to change for the better and to think about what I didn’t do... and simply do better.” — Ilan Kelman (34:15)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On the Book’s Ethos:

  “It was the ethos behind it... to bring together, to seek diversity for connection.” (08:03)

• On Imperial History and New Narratives:

  “We’re moving beyond [man vs. nature]… instead it’s about linking arms as humanity, stepping out in such a way that we survive, but also in such a way that we don’t exploit, overexploit… recognize what the land, what the place, what the location gives to us.” (19:17)

• On Gender in Antarctic Experience:

  “Does it have meaning to be the first woman doing something in Antarctica, as opposed to the first man or first person? ...These are absolutely the questions which are raised but not answered.” (29:18)

• On Editing the Book:

  “It was wonderful getting to know the authors, having chats with them, having a lot of emails, just seeing where they wanted to go... seeking similarities did not disparage the differences.” (30:42)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:29 — Intro, guest welcome, and Ilan Kelman’s background
• 06:02 — Defining "Antarcticness"
• 09:47 — Intended audience for the book
• 13:56 — Imperialism and colonialism theme in Antarctica
• 21:23 — Environmentalism and perceptions of the Antarctic environment
• 27:19 — Gender and Antarctic narratives
• 30:04 — The editorial process and challenges of diversity
• 32:38 — The open-ended future of “Antarcticness”
• 36:59 — Ilan Kelman’s future research directions

Ilan Kelman’s Current and Future Projects

• Two major climate change and health research projects: one global (public health indicators and migration), one local (Trinidad and Alaska communities).
• Ongoing fascination with disaster/health diplomacy and island studies—noting the parallels between urban islands and more traditional insular geographies.
• Emphasis on cross-pollination of ideas between remote/island contexts and megacity urban life.

Final Thoughts

This episode offers listeners a thorough and engaging overview of the book “Antarcticness,” and by extension, a creative, interdisciplinary invitation to imagine and reimagine Antarctica. Kelman’s approach—embracing science, art, and diverse voices—underscores the special place Antarctica holds in both human history and human possibility.