Human Ecology

Examining the values of visitors to the Ross Sea region

Principal Investigator: Gary Steel/Tim Williams
Organisation: Lincoln University/Christchurch College of Education

Individuals making ethical decisions are strongly influenced by the social and organisational context in which decision-making takes place.Antarctica is an environment in which environmental ethics are highly valued; where individuals are removed from their usual organisational and social setting; and where most work is conducted in small, intense, and isolated social groups. Isolated small groups tend to develop unique and strong social norms.  Group norms in such closed groups may differ from social norms of other similarly structured groups and/or from organisational rules or standards. This project investigates influences on decision-making about decision-making involving environmental ethics by individuals in field-teams and base parties over three Antarctic seasons. The outcome will contribute to a greater understanding of environmental ethical decision-making in groups in Antarctica.  Strategies may be developed on how to establish effective ethical guidelines and training and on how to maximise compliance of working parties and Antarctic tourists with accepted environmental standards.