Sarah May

Sarah May is a Senior Lecturer in Public History and Heritage at Swansea University, with previous roles including Senior Archaeologist for English Heritage and postdoctoral researcher at University College London. Her work examines how heritage institutions conceptualize and plan for long-term futures.

Her research critically analyzes preservation paradigms, focusing on uncertainty in heritage management and alternative approaches to future-building. She has conducted fieldwork in the Lake District World Heritage Site exploring tensions between conservation and community participation.

May's publications challenge conventional heritage management frameworks and advocate for more dynamic approaches to cultural preservation. She collaborates internationally through the Heritage Futures research program investigating nuclear waste management, deep time messaging, and disaster heritage.