Permafrost hydrofeminism

Cultural theorist, Astrida Neimanis’ theory of Hydrofeminism, positions water as an ever-shifting body that connects all beings and archives all histories. Unlike other bodies of water however, the permafrost wishes to remain still. Neimanis speaks with permafrost hydrologist, Nikita Tananaev to discuss the cultural, philosophical and ecological implications of permafrost degradation as it disrupts ancient ecosystems suspended in the ice.

Traveling across the thermokarst lakes and sparse tundra of northeast Siberia, they explore the complex entanglements of the ecologies, communities, mythologies and temporalities held amongst this fast-shifting landscape. Neimanis and Tananaev consider the blurred realities that exist within the watery movement of thaw and the dissolving of worlds of the Anthropocene.

This podcast was recorded in early 2022; since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the threat to these precarious landscapes is now more acute than ever.

Astrida Neimanis

Astrida Neimanis a Lecturer in the Department of Gender and Cultural Studies at the University of Sydney. Her work is focused on feminist studies, environmental studies, everyday militarisms, interdisciplinarity, epistemologies and non-traditional research methodologies.

Nikita Tananaev

Nikita Tananaev is a Leading Research Scientist at the Laboratory of Permafrost Groundwater and Geochemistry at the Melnikov Permafrost Institute. His research is focused on permafrost hydrology.