Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility About the Institute | University of West Florida
Skip to main content
Logo of University of West Florida
Dr. Sorna Khakzad

Dr. Sorna Khakzad

  • Position: Research Associate and faculty member at the University of West Florida and Askew Center for Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Department: AIMS / FPAN
  • Office Location: 207 E. Main St. Pensacola, FL 32502
  • skhakzad@uwf.edu
  • Campus: 850.595.0050

Biography

Sorna has records of successful grants, awards, publications and projects in Europe, the Middle-East and USA. She has numerous presentations in scientific and professional conferences. She has been a Think Tank member of a major European funded project, studying the archaeology and geology of submerged Europe Continental Shelf. Some of the results of her research contributed to national legislation for protection of coastal resources and improvement of Marine Spatial Planning in the Belgium Part of the North Sea. She is an active member of several initiatives to develop local and traditional communities.

She has a M.S. in Architecture from Azad University in Iran in 2004 and obtained an Advanced Masters in Conservation of Monuments and Historic Sites in 2008 from KU Leuven.

Degrees & Institutions

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Florida Public Archaeology Network, UWF
Ph.D. Coastal Resources Management, East Carolina University, USA
Ph.D. Engineering, KU Leuven, Belgium
Advance M.S. KU Leuven, Belgium
M.S. Azad University of Tehran, Iran

Research

My trainings and professional experiences made me an interdisciplinary thinker. My research interest is strongly engaged in interdisciplinary and integrated research on the environmental policy, and natural and cultural resources management. Learning from my experiences, I believe that in order to have effective environmental policies, we need to improve our interdisciplinary approaches in research that are more comprehensive in application. My research philosophy is that the outcome should benefit people. I am particularly interested in exploring ways to sustainable usage of coastal resources, considering the well-being of the local communities and industries. I am looking into alternative resources, focusing on social and cultural values, in order to improve the economy and incorporate these values into sustainable development plans. My current project is leading a National Heritage Area Feasibility Study in Northwest Florida, aiming to promote heritage tourism, highlight the uniquely American history and diversity of heritage, promote historic preservation, and sustainable development, and brand the area with a national title, to develop the economy and to promote communities’ sense of belonging and identity.

Publications

Khakzad, S., (2017), Dynamic coasts and immovable cultural resources: an assessment of the impact of natural—environmental factors on coastal cultural resources, Journal of Marine and Island Cultures, Vol. 6:2:3. doi: 10.21463/jmic.2017.06.2.03

Khakzad, S., (2017), Promoting Coastal Communities through Cultural Tourism: Case of Fishing Communities in Brunswick County, North Carolina, Journal of Heritage Tourism, pp. 1-17 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1743873X.2017.1391272

Khakzad, S. & Griffith, D., (2016), The role of fishing material culture in communities’ sense of place as an added-value in management of coastal areas, Journal of Marine and Island Cultures, V. 5:2, pp. 95-117 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imic.2016.09.002

Khakzad, S., Pieters, M., & Van Balen, K., (2015), Coastal cultural heritage: a resources to be included in integrated coastal zone management, Journal of Ocean and Coast Management, V. 118: B, pp. 110-128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2015.07.032

Khakzad, S., (2015), Integrated Approach in Management of Coastal Cultural Heritage, Published dissertation book, University Press, Belgium.

Khakzad, S., Trakadas, A., Harpster, & M., Wittig, N. (2014). Maritime Aspects of Medieval Siraf, Iran: a pilot project for the investigation of coastal and underwater archaeological remains. The International Journal of Nautical Archaeology, 44 (1), art.nr. 10.1111/1095-9270.12085.

Khakzad, S., Trakadas, A. (2014). The world in a grain of sand: Siraf. In: Sindbaek S., Trakadas A. (Eds.), The World in the Viking Age The Viking Ship Museum, 108-110.

Khakzad, S. (2014). Underwater Cultural Heritage Sites on the Way to World Heritage: To Ratify the 2001 Convention or not to Ratify. Journal of Anthropology and Archaeology, 2 (1), 1-16.

Khakzad, S. (2014). The Necessity of a Common Language for Coastal and Underwater Cultural Heritage. Journal of Anthropology and Archaeology, 2 (1), 17-31.

Khakzad, S. and Van Balen, K. (2012), Complications and Effectiveness of In Situ Preservation Methods for Underwater Cultural Heritage Sites.  Journal of conservation and management of archaeological sites, Vol. 14, 69–78

Khakzad, S. (2009). An Interdisciplinary Approach towards Underwater Cultural Heritage Conservation and Management. The 1st WTA-International PhD Symposium Proceeding: Vol. 1. The 1st WTA-International PhD Symposium. Leuven, 9 October 2009 (pp. 43-61).