Pitching Heritage
Do you want your research to fit the rubric of heritage? Is heritage a relevant concept here? These were some of the questions that came up in the lively discussion following twelve five-minute pitches given by Leiden researchers at the ‘Academic Open Mic’ workshop in the Lipsius building on Thursday February 6th.
Sharing thoughts on heritage
In a packed room, an interdisciplinary group of researchers shared how they felt challenged by, struggled with or embraced heritage as a theoretical lens in the research projects they are conducting. The researchers gathered at the invitation of the Leiden chapter of the Una Europa Self Steering Committee of Cultural Heritage, who had together with the colleagues of Leiden Grant Development teamed up for, and been awarded, a KIEM Grant. This grant is aimed at mapping and incentivizing a heritage-oriented network at Leiden University.
Importance of recognizing heritage
At Leiden, ‘heritage’ is a prominent theme engaged with from various (inter)disciplinary perspectives, notably within the faculties of Archaeology, Humanities, Law, and Social Sciences. However, this extensive interdisciplinary field of research, both fundamental and applied, is so far insufficiently recognized and visible within Leiden, the Netherlands, as well as globally.
For Leiden researchers, it emerged from the pitches and the ensuing discussion, that what constitutes ‘heritage’ is never a given. Rather, the varied interlocutors who shape our fields of research identify with it in very different ways, attributing widely different significances. Such a processual approach to heritage allows it to highlight societal perspectives on tradition, modernity, indigeneity, nation and culture more broadly. Hence, understanding heritage is an essential step for examining and reshaping the large challenges that societies around the world face today.
Leiden leading in heritage studies
The KIEM ‘Networking Heritage at Leiden University’ wants to enhance the visibility and accessibility of this research, and in creating new interdisciplinary research and teaching oriented collaborations within the university, establish Leiden as a leading center for heritage studies in Europe.
More events to come
The ‘Academic Open Mic’ event, organized by Anna Loh and Megan Rodrigues, with the support of the Leiden SSC CH leads (Erik de Maaker – CADS, Social Sciences and Sybille Lammes – LUCAS, Humanities), and fellow KIEM partners Michiel van Groesen (History, Humanities) and Lea Kodeih (Grant Development, Strategy and Academic Affairs) fits in with these aims, and is due to be followed up by more in-person as well as online engagements in the months ahead.
Stay tuned!
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