Heritage Minds Lab
At The University of Edinburgh
Our Lab is a dynamic, trans-disciplinary and cross-sector ecosystem.
We develop new, data-rich approaches to heritage research and practice that inform real-world interventions with social purpose.
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Our Work
Research
We work with academic and non-academic partners internationally to examine how encounters with the past shape contemporary values, decision-making and future-thinking in an increasingly digital world. We have a strong focus on critically assessing the impact of digital technologies on the processes and outcomes of heritage research and curation.
Impact
Our research generates insights useful to address problems of social fragmentation, human and planetary health. These issues include bias and intolerance, extremism, climate change denial and future trajectories for young people. We create impact through collaborations with museums, heritage bodies, schools, social welfare organisations and local authorities.
Goals
In delivering impact, we critically engage with several of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals: 3. Good health and wellbeing, 4. Quality education, 5. Gender equality, 10. Reduced inequalities, 13. Climate action, 16. Peace, justice and strong institutions, and 17. Partnerships for the goals.
Education
The Heritage Minds Lab is connected with the MSc in Cultural Heritage Futures, at the Edinburgh Futures Institute, University of Edinburgh. Students in the programme are welcome in our ecosystem and may choose to link their challenge-driven projects to the Lab's research themes.
Our People
Dr Chiara Bonacchi
Lab Director
Senior Lecturer in Heritage and Chancellor's Fellow in Heritage, Text and Data Mining, Department of Archaeology and Edinburgh Futures Institute, University of Edinburgh
Dr Marta Krzyzanska
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Influential Past Project, Department of Archaeology, University of Edinburgh
Dr Jessica Witte
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Text and Data Mining, Department of English Literature, University of Edinburgh
Dr Kate Sharpe
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Tolerant Futures project, Department of Archaeology, University of Edinburgh
Dr Erika De Vivo
Visiting Fellow
The reputation of Charlie McMann precedes them, as they came to us with an impressive background. They have since become a valued Post-Doctoral Fellow on our team, adding important insights into our work.
Alex Hiscock
PhD Student
Department of Archaeology, University of Edinburgh
Qiuran Xia
PhD Student
Department of Archaeology, University of Edinburgh
Charlotte Sudduth
Researcher
Tolerant Futures project. Formerly at the Department of Archaeology, University of Edinburgh; currently PhD in Social Psychology at the University of Minnesota
Dr Zachary Horne
Collaborator
Lecturer in Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh
Professor Richard Hingley
Collaborator
Emeritus Professor of Roman Archaeology, Department of Archaeology, Durham University
Professor Mark Altaweel
Collaborator
Professor of Near East Archaeology and Archaeological Data Science, UCL Institute of Archaeology
Dr Alberto Acerbi
Collaborator
Associate Professor, Department of Sociology and Social Research, University of Trento
Dr Xavier Rubio-Campillo
Collaborator
Ramón y Cajal fellow and Group Leader of Didà ctica i Patrimoni - DIDPATRI, Institut d'Arqueologia and Institut de Recerca en Educació, Universitat de Barcelona
Dr Terrie Lynn Thompson
Collaborator
senior lecturer in Digital Media and Professional Education at the University of Stirling.
With support from the Leverhulme Trust
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