Critical Heritage Studies is a newly emerging interdisciplinary field, which is concerned with exploring the ways in which the past is used in the present to actively assemble the future. The Center is officially launched on Thursday the 21st of April.
- You could say that our research represents an engaging academic response to political, demographic and economic effects of globalization, in which the past is mobilized in various new ways that we wish to investigate and understand in order to provide critical alternatives. By studying how cultural heritage, and different perceptions of heritage are perceived and used in different arenas today, the research aims to provide critical alternatives for the future, says Kristian Kristiansen, Director of the new Centre for Critical Heritage Studies at the University of Gothenburg (CCHS).
Strong interdisciplinary research
Centre for Critical Heritage Studies is part of the University of Gothenburg's cross-disciplinary research initiative UGOT Global Challenges where six new centers received funding to establish multidisciplinary research centres focusing on global societal challenges.
- It is also pleasing that the cultural dimension of the global challenges have been given a clear place in the University's effort, while we also take the scientific dimension seriously. The link between science, humanities, social science and art gives us the possibility to break the academic limits and focus on the common societal challenges, says Ola Wetterberg, Professor in Conservation and Deputy Director for CCHS.
Collaboration with University College London
With this new organization we are able to extend our collaboration with the University College London (UCL), which is one of the leading international environments for critical heritage studies.
- We are very pleased that we will be able to deepen and develop the collaboration with our colleagues at UCL, says Ola Wetterberg.
The launch for the centre will take place on the 21st of April, 13:15-18:00, in the University's mail buildning, Vasaparken, the Torgny Segerstedt room.
Media are welcome to attend.
For more information please contact:
Kristian Kristiansen: kristian.kristiansen@archaeology.gu.se
Ola Wetterberg: ola.wetterberg@conservation.gu.se