Keynote speakers

Dr. C. Patrick Heidkamp approaches geography as a central tool for shaping just and inclusive transitions. An environmental economic geographer by training, his work is grounded in critical pragmatism as a theoretical framework for examining coastal development, with particular attention to the emerging Blue Economy. Based at Southern Connecticut State University, Dr. Heidkamp is also engaged in research and teaching across the North Atlantic. He is affiliated with the High North Center for Business and Governance at Nord University (Norway) and has contributed to specialized curricula at the University Centre of the Westfjords, the University of Cologne, and Ilisimatusarfik (University of Greenland). His current work involves transdisciplinary action research in Arctic and sub-Arctic coastal regions, focusing on sustainability transitions that are community-driven and attentive to questions of equity.