Biography
I locate my research in the context of critical heritage studies and applied philosophy, focusing on ethics and its application in heritage practice and management. I am particularly interested in how the context of heritage process and multiple stakeholders’ engagement shapes our understanding and our ethical obligations to heritage for local, global and marginalised communities.
I pursued studies in philosophy and social sciences (BA University of Athens, MA University of Reading, PhD University of Durham). Prior to my appointment at Cambridge I was Assistant Professor at the University of Durham, where I designed and led the first ever interdisciplinary module in the Ethics of Cultural Heritage.
Research
My research focuses on the epistemic and ethical dilemmas that emerge from the entanglement between tangible and intangible heritage. I am developing novel conceptual tools such as care, trust and stewardship that are shaped by the contextual nuances of heritage. I believe that these theoretical resources can help us to understand better how communities exercise their role in the heritage process, and how communities activate the multiple dynamics of heritage for its future use in interpretation, identity formation and sense of place, particularly where tourism might be absent. These theoretical resources can be effectively applied in practical contexts and projects.
Key Publications
2020. ‘Memory, Pride and Politics on Parade: The Durham Miners’ Gala’ (co-authored with Helaine Silverman) in Clopot, C., Kockel, U., Nic Craith, M. (eds.) Heritage and Festivals in Europe (London: Routledge).
2019. (ed. with C. Holtorf and G.F. Scarre Cultural Heritage, Ethics and Contemporary Migrations. London: Routledge. And chapters therein: Introduction (with C. Holtorf and G. F. Scarre), 1-11; ‘Heritage, Participant Perspective Epistemic Injustice, Immigrants and Identity Formation’, 128-143.
2017. ‘Epistemic Injustice in Cultural Heritage’, in I. J. Kidd, J. Medina, and G. Pollhaus (eds.) Routledge Handbook to Epistemic Injustice (London and New York: Routledge), 370-385.
2016. ‘The Ethics of Trusteeship and the Biography of Objects’ in Philosophy (Royal Institute of Philosophy), supp. 79, 179-198.
2016. ‘The Normative Foundations of Stewardship: Care and Respect’, in T. Ireland and J. Schofield (eds.) The Ethics of Cultural Heritage (New York: Springer), 127-144.
2015. ‘Cultural Heritage Rights and Climate Change’, in M. Di Paola and D. Kamal (eds.) ‘Climate Change and Human Rights: The 2015 Paris Conference and the Task of Protecting People on a Warming Planet’, The Journal of Global Policy e-book.
Teaching and Supervisions
I have extensive experience in developing and leading postgraduate modules in heritage studies. I designed and led the first ever interdisciplinary module in the Ethics of Cultural Heritage. I will be leading the sessions on Heritage Ethics for the elective paper G24: Heritage Special Topics.
I also contribute to the following MPhil in Heritage Studies papers:
G22: Socio-Politics of the Past, G23: Heritage Management.
Other Professional Activities
2016-present: International Engagement Trainer for the British Museum’s Iraq Emergency Heritage Training Scheme (www.britishmuseum.org/our-work/international/iraq-scheme ).
2015. TEDx Speaker: ‘I am a Tourist, Therefore I Have a Stake at your Heritage’ at the TEDx LUISS Way into the Future, Rome (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QlHLOrRFtI ).
