Heritage Minds Lab

At The University of Edinburgh

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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.

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