Dr Morgan Ip

Institute Affiliate / Senior Library Assistant (cover)

Dedicated to the co-creation of socially and environmentally resilient communities, communicating research and science, and supporting knowledge-to-action activities. I am trained as an architect and urbanist with an ethnographic, community-based approach to research on interrelated themes: cultural landscapes and collective imaginaries; resource landscapes; borders; urban displacement and contingency; and placemaking and wellbeing.

As a SPRI Institute Affiliate, I collaborate within the network to support teaching and research in Polar material culture, architecture and urbanism. This includes grant-writing, supervisions and seminar leadership within the Department of Geography, and course development and partnership support for the 'Arctic Unit' - an MA Cities course hosted and led by Central Saint Martins - University of the Arts London.

Biography

Career

• 2025 - present: Outreach Communications Officer, Admissions, Christ's College, University of Cambridge
• 2025 - present: Special Lecturer, Central Saint Martins - University of the Arts London
• 2025 - 2027: Institute Affiliate, Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge (new IA scheme type from 2025)
• 2024 - 2025: Institute Associate, Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge (IA scheme type closed in 2025)
• 2022 - 2024: Postdoctoral Research Associate, ERC "Arctic Cultures" (PI Richard C. Powell), University of Cambridge
• 2019 - 2022: Research Associate, Oslo School of Architecture and Design (AHO), Norway. EqUIP Project: Displacement, Placemaking and Wellbeing in the City (DWELL)

Qualifications

• 2022: Doctor of Philosophy, Institute of Urbanism and Landscape, The Oslo School of Architecture and Design, Norway. Thesis title: "Urban Futures in the North: A Collective Imagination of an Arctic Borderland".
• 2009: Master of Architecture (Awarded the AIA Henry Adams Certificate), Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada. Dissertation title: "Architecture and Healing: Culturally Appropriate Design in the Canadian Arctic".
• 2006: Bachelor of Architectural Studies (High Distinction), Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada

Awards

• 2024: Wellbeing Grant, University of Cambridge
• 2024: B.B. Roberts Fund, Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge
• 2024: Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW) Travel Award, University of Edinburgh
• 2010: IPY Oslo Science Conference Stipend Award for early career researchers, Research Council of Norway.
• 2009: National Science Foundation (NSF) Travel Grant, BOREAS: Environments, Movement, Narratives - Final Conference, Rovaniemi, Finland.
• 2009: Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies (ACUNS) Travel Grant, Communities of Change Conference, Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada.
• 2009: Winner of the Poster of Distinction Prize: Ip, M. (2009, October) Architecture and Healing. 9th ACUNS International Student Conference on Northern Studies and Polar Region: Communities of Change - Building an IPY Legacy, Whitehorse.
• 2009: American Institute of Architects (AIA) Henry Adams Certificate, Carleton University, Ottawa
• 2008: Honourable Mention (2^nd place in the Agitation Category): Ip, M. et al (2008) A Cartographic Cartoon. Interuniversity Charrette 14th edition: Housing Crisis in the North. Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal

Research

My work crosses scales of material culture, architecture, landscapes and urban environments. I have been a part of several international and multidisciplinary research teams working with people and places in the Canadian and European Arctic, as well as in capital cities in Northern Europe and India. How local perceptions and on-the-ground context inform design and discourse are central to the research, with themes including borders, resource extraction, placemaking, cultural landscapes, displacement, and the effects of climate change on communities and landscapes.

Publications

Articles

• te Lintelo, D.,Ip, M., Lappi, T.-R., Lakshman, R., Hemmersam, P., Dar, A., & Tervonen, M. (2024).Urban displacement and placemaking in public space for wellbeing: A systematic review of global literature. Environment and Urbanization. Vol 36, Issue 2.
• Hemmersam, P., Chopra, D., Dar, A., Breivik-Khan, H., Olsen, T. S.,Ip, M., Lappi, T.-R., Lintelo, D. T., Mull, R., Adjoubei, X., & Donnellan, C. (2022). Displacement and placemaking in design studios.Architecture_MPS
• Ip, M. (2018). Cultural Mapping and Digital Public Engagement in the Future North.Nordisk Arkitekturforskning,30(3), 81–106.http://arkitekturforskning.net/na/article/view/1162
• Ip, M., Grimwood, B. S. R., Kushwaha, A., Doubleday, N. C., & Donaldson, S. G. (2008). Photos and Plants Through Time: Monitoring Environmental Change in the Canadian Arctic with Implications for Outdoor Education.Pathways: The Ontario Journal of Outdoor Education,21(1), 14–18.

Book Chapters

• Ip, M. (2025). Envisioning Urban Futures in the Arctic Borderlands of Norway and Russia. In:Arctic Practices: Design for a Changing World. Eds. B. De Jonghe & E. Misao Hunchuck. Actar Publishers: Barcelona, Spain; New York, USA.
• Ip, M. (2018). Hyperlandscape: The Norwegian-Russian Borderlands. In J. K. Larsen & P. Hemmersam (Eds.),Future North: The Changing Arctic Landscapes (1 edition). Routledge.

Lectures, conference presentations

• Ip, M. (2024, October 17).Arctic Cultures and Polar Futures: Case studies on perceptions of people and place. British Antarctic Survey Student Symposium, Cambridge, United Kingdom.Keynote Lecture.
• Ip, M. (2024, October 29).Urban Futures in the North - A Collective Imagination of an Arctic Borderland. Histories, Cultures, Environments and Politics (HCEP) Research Seminar Series. Scott Polar Research Institute Lecture Theatre, University of Cambridge. Lecture.
• Ip, M. (2024, September 12)Game of Bones: Inugaq in Museum Collections. Arctic Cultures Final Conference. Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge.
• Ip, M. (2024, June 1)Concepts of Everyday Life and Dwelling in the Arctic. ARCTIC CULT: A discussion about the ERC Arctic Cultures Project. Arctic Congress, Bodø, Norway.
• Ip, M. (2024, March 27).Game of Bones: Ossicular Omission in Museum Collections? Poster session presented at the Arctic Science Summit Week, Edinburgh, Scotland.
• Ip, M., J. Brunn, N. Kaalund, M. Kleist, P. Martin, E. Walsh, and R.C. Powell. (2024, March 27).Arctic Cultures: Sites of Collection in the Formation of the European and American Northlands. Poster session presented by Ip at the Arctic Science Summit Week, Edinburgh, Scotland.
• Ip, M. (2024, March 24).Arctic Cultures: Sites of Collection in the Formation of the European and American Northlands. Flash talk presented by Ip at the Arctic Science Summit Week, Edinburgh, Scotland.
• Ip, M. and E. Walsh. (2024, February 15)Arctic Museum Cultures: A Critical Perspective on Heritage Practices in/about the North.Polar Humanities and Social Sciences (PHaSS) Workshop Seminar Series. Scott Polar Research Institute, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
• Ip, M. & Walsh, E. (2023, November 24).Exploring Research at SPRI: Arctic Cultures. Canada-Inuit Nunangat-United Kingdom Arctic Research Programme Visit to SPRI. The Library of the Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England.
• Ip, M. (2023, September 28).Game of Bones:Ossicular Omission in Museum Collections? Department of Geography Research Day. Pembroke College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England.
• Ip, M. (2023, February 28).Urban Spatial Imaginaries in an Arctic Borderland: Kirkenes and Nikel. Arctic Building and Construction (ABC) Arctic Urban Space Design Webinar. Oslo School of Architecture and Design, Oslo, Norway, and online.
• Ip, M. (2023, January 18).The Arctic Environment – Why We Should Care: A Culturally-Centred Perspective. Presentation Panel and Fundraiser (Alzheimer's Research UK; Ocean Regeneration). Grimshaw Architects, London, England.
• Ip, M. (2021, September 30).Urban Futures in the North: Collective Imagination in an Arctic Borderland. Research Talks 'On fieldwork: archives, anthropology and ethnography', PhD School, Oslo School of Architecture and Design, Oslo, Norway.
• Ip, M., Breivik, H., & Selmer-Olsen, T. (2019, June 4).The Role of Architecture in Creating Social Sustainability in Our Communities. Displacement, Placemaking and Wellbeing in the City, Migration Institute of Finland - Siirtolaisuusinstituutti, Turku, Finland.
• Ip, M. (2018, December 3).Design Anthropology within Arctic Urban Landscapes: Co-mapping Possible Futures. INTAROS – UAK Research School on Cross-Disciplinary Science in the Arctic and Collaboration with Local Communities, Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway.
• Ip, M. (2017, November 22).Imaginary North: The Cultural Landscape of Vardø. Future North Seminar, Vardø, Norway.
• Ip, M. (2016, October 7).Ethnographic Landscapes at the Norwegian-Russian Border. Inuit Traditions = Traditions Inuites: 20th Biennial Inuit Studies Conference, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada.
• Ip, M., & Hamaker, M. (2016, August 17).Events as Elements and Attractors in the City Landscape. International Street Food Festival and Conference, Kaliningrad, Russia.
• Ip, M. (2015, November 16).Participatory Mapping in the Co-Design of the Future North. Arts4City: Art, Participation and Development of Spontaneous Public Spaces, St. Petersburg, Russia.
• Ip, M. (2015, October 30).Participatory Mapping in the Co-Design of the Future North. The Sustainability of Public Art in Industrial Towns, Murmansk, Russia.
• Ip, M. (2015, September 11).Participatory Mapping in the Co-Design of the Future North. Architecture and Resilience on the Human Scale Cross-Disciplinary Conference, Sheffield, England.
• Ip, M. (2015, June 1).Voices of the North: Co-Creating Future Landscapes. OAT(Oslo Architecture Triennale) In-Residence Talk, DogA (Design og arkitektur), Oslo, Norway.
• Ip, M. (2015, January 22).Voices of the North: Co-Designing Future Landscapes. Arctic Frontiers Conference, Tromsø, Norway.
• Ip, M., Consaul, L., Doubleday, N. C., Donaldson, S. G., Grimwood, B., Harper, K., Hermanutz, L., Johnstone, J., Ross, F., & Van Oostdam, J. (2011, June 23).IPY Legacy –Case Studies of Endogenous Initiatives Arising from Research Collaborations". 7th International Conference of Arctic Social Sciences, Akureyri, Iceland.
• Ip, M. (2010) Appropriate Arctic Architecture. Poster session presented at the IPY Conference, Oslo, Norway.
• Doubleday, N. C., Donaldson, S. G.,Ip, M., Grimwood, B. S. R., Charette, D., & Van Oostdam, J. (2010).Photos and Plants through Time and Food Choice Research: Collaborative Community Research. Poster session presented by Doubleday andIp at the International Polar Year Conference, Oslo, Norway.
• Charette, D., Donaldson, S. G., Doubleday, N. C.,Ip, M., Manning, A., Leech, T., Nancarrow, T., Adlard, B., & Grimwood, B. S. R. (2010).The Importance of a Community-Based Approach to Health Research in the Arctic: A Case Study. Poster session presented by Doubleday at the International Polar Year Conference, Oslo, Norway.
• Donaldson, S. G., Doubleday, N. C., Charette, D., Nancarrow, T.,Ip, M., Grimwood, B., Manning, A., Leech, T., Adlard, B., & Van Oostdam, J. (2010).A comparative analysis of the gender specific determinants of diet choice in three communities in Nunavut, Canada. IPY Conference, Oslo, Norway.
• Consaul, L.,Ip, M., Catling, P., Doubleday, N. C., Kudluarok, S., & Tookalook, L. M. (2010, May 31).Native Orchids as Bio-indicators in the Southern Arctic. Poster session presented by Consaul andIp at the Canadian Botanical Association Conference, Ottawa, Canada.
• Ip, M. (2010, March 16).Architecture and Healing: Collaborative Design as Catalyst. Poster session at the State of the Arctic Conference: At the Forefront of Global Change, Miami, USA.
• Ip, M., Donaldson, S. G., Adlard, B., Charette, D., Doubleday, N. C., Haines, D., Leech, T., Manning, A., Nancarrow, T., & Van Oostdam, J. (2010).A comparative analysis of diet choice among residents of Cape Dorset, Iqaluit and Kimmirut, Nunavut, Canada. Poster session presented by Charette andIp at the ArcticNET Conference, Ottawa, Canada.
• Donaldson, S. G., Doubleday, N. C., Vlasova, T., Grimwood, B. S. R., Adlard, B., Manning, A., Charette, D., Kushwaha, A.,Ip, M., & Van Oostdam, J. (2009, April).Food and Nutrition research in Nunavut: Implications for public health policy development. Poster session presented byIp at the annual meeting of International Polar Year PPS Arctic, Volkovo, Russia.
• Doubleday, N. C., Donaldson, S. G., Vlasova, T., Kushwaha, A.,Ip, M., Charette, D., & Grimwood, B. S. R. (2009, April).Human experience of cryospheric change in Nunavut, Canada: Preliminary findings. Poster session presented by Doubleday at the annual meeting of International Polar Year PPS Arctic, Volkovo, Russia.
• Ip, M., Doubleday, N. C., Charette, D., Donaldson, S. G., & Grimwood, B. S. R. (2009).Geography, Cultural Identity and Collaborative Design. American Association of Geographers (AAG) Conference, Las Vegas, USA.
• Donaldson, S. G., Adlard, B., Charette, D., Doubleday, N.C., Grimwood, B.S.R.,Ip, M., Leech, T., Nolasco da Silva, C., Van Oostdam, Jay. (2009).The importance of a community-based approach to health research in the Arctic: A case study from Nunavut, Canada. American Association of Geographers (AAG) Conference, Las Vegas, USA.
• Grimwood, B. S. R., Doubleday, N. C., Donaldson, S. G.,Ip, M., Vlasova, T., Charette, D., & Van Oostam, J. (2009).Collaborative community-based workshops in Cape Dorset, NU: Reporting on and extending from an IPY research resign. Conference for the Canadian Association of Geographers: Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada.
• Ip, M. (2009, October).Architecture and Healing. ACUNS Conference: Communities of Change - Building and IPY Legacy, Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada.
• (Donaldson, S.G., Doubleday, N.C., Vlasova, T., Grimwood, B, Adlard, B., Manning, A., Charette, C., Kushwaha, A.,Ip, M., & Van Oostdam, J. (2008).Balancing the nutritional benefits and risk of contaminant exposure of country food in the circumpolar region. IPY Science Conference. St. Petersburg, Russia.

Other publications

• Ip, M. (2025). Review ofDesign and the Built Environment of the Arctic: Leena Cho and Matthew Jull (2024), New York, NY: Routledge. 246 p. paperpack. ISBN 978-1-032-66770-6.Polar Record,61, e9.https://doi.org/10.1017/S0032247424000342
• Ip, M. (2023, December 20). Game of Bones.Arctic Cultures Blog.https://www.arcticcultures.org/2023/12/20/game-of-bones/
• Hemmersam, P.; Breivik-Khan, H.;Ip, M. and Selmer-Olsen, T. (2022) 'The Role of Urban Public Spaces in Managing Displacement in Norway', IDS Policy Briefing 197, Brighton: Institute of Development Studies, DOI: 10.19088/IDS.2022.041
• Hemmersam, P., andIp, M. (2021) Inclusive Oslo? In Breivik-Khan, H., Selmer-Olsen, T., Lucas, P-A. & Quý Sơn, B. (Eds) In Transit Studio: Oslo Files. Oslo: The Oslo School of Architecture and Design.
• Ip, M. (2019). Future Vardø—Imaginary City. In A. Morrison, J. K. Larsen, & P. Hemmersam (Eds.),Future North—Vardø (pp. 119–123). OCULS at AHO.
• Troye, R., andIp, M. (2018). AHO Works Studies 2017-2018. Oslo School of Architecture and Design, Oslo, Norway.
• Ip, M. (2017). Imaginary Arctic City—Visions of a Future Kirkenes. In P. Hemmersam, L. Harboe, &M. Ip (Eds.),Borderlands: Arctic City Studio 2017. AHO.
• Donaldson, S., Doubleday, N., Van Oostdam, J., Adlard, B., Charette, D., Curren, M., Leech, T., Manning, A., Nancarrow, T., &Ip, M. (2011)IPY Dietary Food Choice Study: Summary, Methodology and Results. Educational Poster developed with the Arctic College, Iqaluit, NU.
• Donaldson, S., Doubleday, N.C., Van Oostdam, J. Charette, D., Nancarrow, T., Adlard, B.,Ip, M., Leech, T., Curren, & M., Manning, A.IPY Dietary Food Choice Study. Educational Brochure developed with Arctic College, Iqaluit, NU. 2011.

Community workshops, dialogues and presentations

• Ip, M. and E. Walsh. (2024, March 19)Arctic Cultures: Collections and Imaginations. Talk and Guided Exhibition Tour as part of the Cambridge Festival. Scott Polar Research Institute, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
• Ip, M. (2017, November 22-25).Imaginary North: The Cultural Landscape of Vardø. Community Seminar, Vardø, Norway.
• Ip, M. (2015, October 29).Participatory Mapping in the Co-Design of the Future North. Crossborder Days, Nikel, Russia.
• Chagina, S. (Moderator), Boyanzhu, A., Hoffman, A.,Ip, M., Khadartsev, O., Polsky, A., Troshina, M., Vologzhannikova, V.(2015, November 18)The Sustainability of Public Art in the Barents Region. Transborder Кухня (Kitchen), Murmansk, Russia.
• Ip. M., Jylha, K. (2015, July 30 – August 1)MyBarents: My Kirkenes Community Workshop. Kirkenesdagene (Kirkenes Days), Kirkenes, Norway.
• Ip. M., Jylha, K., Mitaki, S. Kreminski, D. (2015, July 22-25)MyBarents:My Vardø Community Workshop. Pomorfestivalen (Pomor Festival), Vardø, Norway
• Ip, M., Jylha, K. (2015, June 18)MyBarents Workshop. Kirkenes, Norway
• Ip, M., Jylha, K., Mitaki, S. Kreminski, D. (2015, May 14)MyBarents: My Nikel Community Workshop. Nikel, Russia.
• Ip, M. (2015, September 23).Community Participation in Architecture, Urbanism and Landscape. Kirkenes High School Youth Outreach Presentation, Kirkenes, Norway.

Teaching

• "Co-Design and the Collective Imagination in the North." Guest lecture. Integrated Business and Humanities (IBH) Program, McMaster University. (March 2025)
• "The Anthropocene in the Arctic North." Seminar leader, MPhil in Anthropocene Studies, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge. (Michaelmas, 2024)
• "Dwelling in/on the North." Seminar leader, MPhil in Polar Studies, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge. (Michaelmas, 2023)
• Undergraduate supervisor, Geography Tripos, Part II, Paper 2: "Geographies of the Arctic," Department of Geography, University of Cambridge (2022-2023)
• Lecturer / Studio Instructor. Master Studio: "Taste of a Territory: Envisioning Architectures of Water within Greater Oslo" (21 students). Course lead: Sabine Müller. Institute of Urbanism and Landscape, Oslo School of Architecture and Design, Norway (Spring 2018)
• Lecturer / Studio Instructor. Master Studio: "Arctic City – Urban Design: Borderlands" (8 students). Course lead: Peter Hemmersam. Institute of Urbanism and Landscape, Oslo School of Architecture and Design, Norway (Spring 2017)

Invited studio review critic

• 2024: Central Saint Martins - University of the Arts London; Course Leads: Diana Ibáñez López and Sven-Alexander Mündner, "The Arctic Unit" Master of Architecture Studio
• 2019: Ambedkar University Delhi; Course Leads: Anandini Dar and Divya Chopra, Social Design Studio
• 2019: University of Brighton; Course Leads: Robert Mull and Xenia Adjoubi, Undergraduate Architecture Studio
• 2012: Carleton University; Course Leads: Gisle Løkken and Magdalena Haggärde (70°N Arkitektur AS), Master of Architecture Studio
• 2012: Carleton University; Course Leads: Renee Hynes and Matt Edwards, Undergraduate Architecture Studio

External activities

• Christ's College Postdoctoral Affiliate (2022-2024)
• Svalbard Social Science Initiative (2021-present)
• Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (2010-2018)
  • Council Member of APECS Norway (2018)
  • Fundraising Working Group Member (2010-2011)