Mike Robinson

Mike Robinson is Professor of Cultural Heritage at Nottingham Trent University’s School of Architecture Design and the Built Environment. With over 30 years’ expertise, he focuses on heritage-tourism intersections, advising governments and organizations globally. His work bridges tangible/intangible heritage values and their societal impacts across 40+ countries.

Education: PhD in Environmental Sciences/Political Anthropology from University of East Anglia. Previous roles include Professor at University of Birmingham, founder of Ironbridge International Institute for Cultural Heritage, and visiting professorships at National Taiwan University and University of Trento.

Research Interests: Heritage’s evolving values, sustainable tourism practices, industrial heritage revitalization, and transnational cultural routes. Key themes include World Heritage Site management, museum curation, and the role of heritage in community identity.

Grants & Collaborations: Led UNESCO-funded projects in Uzbekistan and China, AHRC-funded initiatives on World Heritage sustainability, and partnerships with institutions like University of Illinois and Peking University. Served as editor for Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change and advisory roles for UNESCO and Council of Europe.

Labs/Teams: Core member of Nottingham Trent’s Cultural Heritage Research Cluster, collaborating with global networks like UNESCO World Heritage Sustainable Tourism Programme and Europe’s Cultural Routes Programme.