Nationality Scotland Notable award Polar Medal (2016) | Notable awards Polar medal (2016) | |
Institutions International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators Alma mater BSc University of Aberdeen
PhD University of Cambridge Books A Visitor's Guide to South Georgia: Second Edition Institution International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators | ||
Introduction being one kim crosbie
Kim Crosbie is the Executive Director of the secretariat of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) and has been working in the polar regions since 1991.
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Early life and education
Crosbie is from Edinburgh, Scotland, and she completed her undergraduate degree in Geography at the University of Aberdeen. In 1991 Crosbie began conducting post-Graduate research at the Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI) at the University of Cambridge, where she gained an M.Phil. in environmental protection in the Canadian Arctic. She then embarked on a PhD that focused on the ecological monitoring and management of visitor sites in the Antarctic. This required three austral summer seasons in primitive conditions at a temporary field camp on Cuverville Island in the Antarctic Peninsula surrounded by some 4,500 breeding pairs of gentoo penguins. During this time, Crosbie spent two seasons as field camp leader at a small temporary field camp.
Following completion of her PhD, Crosbie remained in the field of visitor management, leading expeditions to the Arctic and the Antarctic, primarily onboard expedition vessels, supporting groups of students, film makers, authors, artists and those simply interested in experiencing these unique environments in a sustainable way. She has subsequently described how such Antarctic tourism programmes "enrich a visitor’s experience of Antarctica by getting them involved and contributing to something bigger.”
Career and impact
Crosbie's Polar career began in 1991 when she joined the Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, as a research student and member of St. Catharine's College, Cambridge. Initially working in the Canadian Arctic, she attributes her love of cold places to growing up in Scotland. In 2005, Crosbie joined the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) as Environmental Manager and subsequently Operations Director before being appointed Executive Director in 2013. As Executive Director, Crosbie is responsible for the Association's strategic planning process, including sustainable tourism growth management strategies. Crosbie also directs IAATO's efforts with the Antarctic Treaty Parties and other government bodies relevant to Antarctic tourism, including the International Maritime Organization (for instance, working on the Polar Code, which was adopted in 2014).
Crosbie has published scientific papers and books with a diverse range of scientists and non-governmental representatives. Aspects of this work have contributed to the development of a series of visitor site guidelines both in the Antarctic and the small sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, as well as guidelines on wildlife and tourism and the use of new technologies such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Crosbie has also addressed the topic of citizen science, outreach and education: “This is more an opportunity than a challenge through citizen science, creating ambassadors for the continued protection of Antarctica and building on education efforts through social media and elsewhere.”
Awards and honors
In 2016, Crosbie was awarded the Polar Medal for contributions to knowledge in the Arctic and the Antarctic.