Bryony Onciul

Dr. Bryony Onciul is a Lecturer in Public History at the University of Exeter, actively contributing to research and discourse in critical heritage studies. Her work centers on decolonization, Indigenous history, and the management of cultural heritage, with a strong emphasis on community engagement and power dynamics in representation.

Her research interests include:

• Indigenous history and voice
• Decolonization of heritage and museums
• Community engagement and co-production
• Historical trauma and state apologies
• Climate change impacts on cultural heritage
• Critical Heritage Studies

Her seminal 2015 book, Museums, Heritage and Indigenous Voice: Decolonizing Engagement, explores the complex relationships between power, voice, and representation in heritage institutions. Her recent work investigates how rising seas and storm surges affect heritage sites and how professionals and communities respond to these challenges. She is also examining the role of official state apologies in addressing historical wrongs.

Bryony founded the UK Chapter of the Association of Critical Heritage Studies (ACHS) in 2013, demonstrating her leadership in the field. She regularly presents at international conferences, such as ACHS 2016, where she has spoken on topics including climate change and heritage, co-production in addressing difficult pasts, and the future of heritage studies in the UK.

She is actively involved in academic discourse but no information is available regarding her students, awards, or specific journal articles beyond her book.