Her current research focuses on cultural constructions of the oil industry, and is informed by her background in post-colonial and island studies. Along with colleague Danine Farquharson, she is presently working on “Cold Water Oil.” This project investigates how the North Atlantic offshore oil and gas industry is imagined in a wide range of high and popular contexts – everything from oil company websites, to government-sponsored documentaries to literary fiction. Of particular interest are texts that address, question, and explore both the contemporary affects and the historical resonances of the North Atlantic offshore oil industry on the people of Newfoundland and Labrador and other Northern areas of energy extraction such as Norway, Scotland, and Ireland. Fiona Polack and Danine Farquharson are hosting Petrocultures 2016 in St. John’s from 31 August-3 September, 2016.