Kimberley Peters

Human Geographer, Head of Marine Governance

Contact

ed.bmfih@sretep.yelrebmik

+49 471 4831-2515

Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity at the University of Oldenburg (HIFMB)
Ammerländer Heerstraße 231
26129 Oldenburg

Website

Team

Marine Governance

Status group

Professor, Scientific Member

Research Area

Conservation and Management

Vita

2020 – today
Working Group Lead and Professor of Marine Governance at HIFMB, AWI and University of Oldenburg (Faculty I and V)

2016 – 2020

Reader in Maritime Geography at the University of Liverpool, UK (Lecturer from 2016-2018, promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2018 and Reader in 2019)

2012-2016

Lecturer in Human Geography at Aberystwyth University, UK

2011-2012

Teaching Fellow in Human Geography at the University of Sheffield, UK

2007-2011

Teaching Assistant in Human Geography at Royal Holloway, University of London, UK

2010

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Human Geography, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK

2010

Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education Teaching (PGCTHE), Royal Holloway, University of London, UK, awarded with Distinction

2007

Master of Arts (MA) in Cultural Geography, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK, awarded with Merit

2006

Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Geography and Planning, Cardiff University UK, awarded with first class honours

Research Interests

1) As a geographer, I am interested in how ocean governance takes place in space: how the ‘where’ of ocean governance matters. I research (1) territory, borders and ocean management; (2) shipping, routeing and mobilities; (3) engagement and (emotional) connections with marine worlds. I am also dedicated to demonstrating how theory is an essential part of making sense of the practice of governing at sea. These foci reflect in my projects (below) 2) Aside from supervising, advising and collaborating on the projects of the Marine Governance Group (core and third party funded, see our Group page), I am involved in a number of additional projects.

Projects

Ocean Governance (Beyond) Borders: The oceans are often called the freest of spaces but they have always been, and continue to be, bordered as a mechanism for controlling human activity. I consider territory and borders in a wide range of projects but notably through a new book (to be released in 2024, with Palgrave) that considers bordering processes at sea in their many articulations. This book is being developed together with border scholar Professor Jennifer Turner (University of Trier).

Ocean Infrastructures: The oceans are full of infrastructure (cables, pipelines, extraction technologies etc). They might also be thought of as infrastructures in an of themselves (for example the sea is an infrastructure that allows the movement of ships). This project, together with Professor Christian Bueger (University of Copenhagen), considers ocean governance through an infrastructural lens. This builds on my long-standing work on the invisible infrastructures of ship routeing that guide vessels around our planet.

Aquariums in a Time of Crisis: Aquariums have, since the 19th century, offered a window to ocean worlds to public audiences unable to otherwise life below the surface of the sea. This project, together with Dr Rachael Squire (University of London) considers the curation and operation of aquariums and their role in communicating information about the plights currently facing seas, oceans and the lifeworlds connected to them. What is the balance between environmental knowledge and capitalist concerns within the business model of the modern aquarium?

Ocean Ontologies, Theorising Water Worlds: For almost 10 years I been writing with Professor Philip Steinberg (Durham University) on how the ocean can unlock ways of thinking spatially, beyond geography’s usual parameters of understanding. This work has manifested in a series of papers that think with and about the oceans in hopefully provoking ways (which we, ourselves, continue to critique). An early example of this theory project can be found in this Society + Space article. 

Highlighted Publications

On ocean territories and borders:

Peters, K. (2020). The territories of governance: Unpacking the ontologies and geophilosophies of fixed to flexible ocean management, and beyond. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 375(1814), 20190458.

On ocean infrastructures and mobilities:

Peters, K. (2020). Deep routeing and the making of ‘maritime motorways’: Beyond surficial geographies of connection for governing global shipping. Geopolitics, 25(1), 43-64.

On ocean ontologies and theory

Peters, K., & Steinberg, P. (2019). The ocean in excess: towards a more-than-wet ontology. Dialogues in Human Geography, 9(3), 293-307.

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