Small islands are vulnerable to depopulation, distant governance, demands of global markets, and retrenchment of investment caused by fluctuations in the wider economy. Through excursions and presentations, this island studies conference will explore various public-, private-, and community-led strategies for overcoming these challenges. We will also consider the respective merits of development initiatives that focus on individual villages, whole islands, or entire archipelagos.Using Saxa Vord Unst as our base, we will investigate social and economic development initiatives in the North Isles of Shetland. Our excursions in Unst will take us to local retailers and producers, heritage museums, community halls, a renewable energy centre, a new pier – and to abandoned settlements and ruined churches that are eloquent of past depopulation and rural decline. We will also visit the island of Fetlar, where the Fetlar Development Trust is working to create jobs and reverse long-term decline that saw the island’s population drop to around 40 residents in early 2009. The final days of the conference will be devoted to presentations and discussion forums that will help interested Shetlanders learn about development efforts in other island communities.