About
Dr Emma Reisz is a Lecturer in the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics at Queen's University Belfast, specializing in the history of empire and transnational networks with a focus on Britain's nineteenth-century influence in China. She serves on the Steering Committee of the Centre for Public History and the Digital Scholarship Hub, and actively leads multiple research projects exploring colonial legacies through material culture and digital methodologies.
Her research centers on photography as a colonial tool, material culture of empire, and digital approaches to historical analysis. She investigates how objects and images shape collective memory of imperialism, particularly in Northern Ireland contexts, and examines decentered perspectives in colonial narratives through interdisciplinary public history initiatives.
Recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate consistent focus on material culture's role in processing imperial afterlives, with recurring themes of museum representation, photographic deconstruction, and community engagement in postcolonial contexts. Her collaborative work with Briony Widdis dominates output trends, emphasizing Northern Ireland's unique position in global imperial memory studies.
Dr Reisz has received significant recognition:
- AHRC Smithsonian Fellowship in Digital Scholarship (2018)
- Historic Houses, Global Crossroads award (2024)
- Honorary Award for research into the China Post (2018)
- Research Culture Seed Fund: £2400 (2021)
As an active PhD supervisor, she leads major grants including the ESRC IAA-funded MENII Memories/MENII Voices projects (2023-2024) and the long-running Sir Robert Hart Project. Her research integrates archival photography with community-based methodologies, securing continuous funding through competitive national schemes.
Dr Reisz co-directs the Many Memories, Many Voices initiative and contributes to the Digital Scholarship Hub, developing collaborative frameworks with museums across Ireland. Her work bridges academic research with public engagement through exhibitions, workshops, and digital archives focused on decolonizing historical narratives.
