HOW do islanders maintain connections to their communities when they are living on the mainland?
That’s just one of the questions being posed by researchers at the University of Aberdeen.
Kirsten Gow is exploring “how those with island connections could play a part in the future of island life, including through return migration”.
Gow, who is based on Jura, is surveying islanders who now stay on the mainland, or others with strong island connections.
“I know from personal experience that you don’t necessarily stop being part of an island community just because you move away,” she explained.
“I believe that it’s important to pay attention to the strong connections people have with Scottish islands even when they are living elsewhere.
“It potentially tells us a great deal about island culture and identity, but it also might help us understand how we can make the most of these continued links to build sustainable futures for our islands.”
Gow added: “Research already tells us that, if we want to make sure our islands have a sustainable future, many of them will need to maintain or increase their populations by encouraging more people to move there.
“But it’s not just about numbers.
“Return migration – people with connections to an island moving ‘back’ to the island – can potentially help tackle depopulation while also helping us retain the cultural and local knowledge, which is a key part of building resilient and sustainable communities.”
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