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Erica Lehrer is an Associate Professor in the Departments of History and Sociology-Anthropology at Concordia University, where she also holds the Canada Research Chair in Museum & Heritage Studies. She is based in the Faculty of Arts and Science in Montreal and is a socio-cultural anthropologist and curator with a strong interdisciplinary profile. Her research centers on museum studies, heritage, memory, and Jewish cultural revival, particularly in post-Holocaust Poland. She explores how difficult knowledge—especially related to trauma, identity, and historical injustice—is curated and experienced in public spaces. Her work combines ethnographic fieldwork, curatorial practice, and critical theory. Lehrer's publications and exhibitions, such as Jewish Poland Revisited , Souvenir, Talisman, Toy , and Curating Difficult Knowledge , reflect a deep engagement with how heritage shapes identity and public understanding. Her recent projects often involve research-creation, blending academic scholarship with artistic and public-facing outputs. Her publications span themes including Jewish heritage tourism, curatorial innovation, material culture, and the emotional dimensions of museums. She has contributed significantly to debates on how museums frame human rights, memory, and social justice, as seen in her participation in conferences like ACHS 2016. Canada Research Chair in Museum & Heritage Studies Lehrer mentors emerging scholars and collaborates across disciplines, though specific advisees are not listed. She has been involved in major curatorial and research initiatives, including digital and physical exhibitions that explore urban heritage and collective memory. Her work at Concordia, particularly in relation to the Grey Nuns Motherhouse, demonstrates a commitment to community-engaged and place-based scholarship.

• Museum Studies
• Heritage Studies
• Socio-Cultural Anthropology
• +7 more

Jennifer Kramer is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia, holding a joint position as a museum curator at the UBC Museum of Anthropology (MOA). Her work bridges sociocultural anthropology and critical museology, emphasizing Indigenous knowledge systems and decolonizing practices. She specializes in the visual and material culture of Northwest Coast First Nations, particularly the Nuxalk, Heiltsuk, Wuikinuxv, and Kwakwaka’wakw. Her research focuses on representation, cultural property, repatriation, and Indigenous modernity. Notable projects include collaborative exhibitions like *Kesu’: The Art and Life of Doug Cranmer* and *Shake Up: Preserving What We Value*, which integrate Indigenous epistemologies with museum practices. She has received prestigious awards for her co-edited volume *Native Art of the Northwest Coast: A History of Changing Ideas*, including the Canada Prize in the Humanities. Kramer’s teaching spans courses on Indigenous issues in BC, museum methods, and visual anthropology. Her current projects include co-curating the *Nuxalk Strong* exhibition (2022-23) and a book exploring Nuxalk Nation collaborations with museum collections. She has secured grants from the Smithsonian, Bill Holm Center, and Peter Wall Centre to advance Indigenous-led research on language, art, and cultural heritage preservation. Awards: Canada Prize in Humanities (2015), Jeanne Clark Award (2015), Melva J. Dwyer Award (2014) Grants: Smithsonian Recovering Voices, Bill Holm Center, Jacobs Research Council, Peter Wall Centre Key Collaborations: Nuxalk Cultural Coordinator, U’mista Cultural Centre, MOA exhibitions Her work prioritizes ethical relationality, Indigenous sovereignty, and the transformative potential of museums in addressing historical injustices.

• Museum Studies
• Visual Culture
• Indigenous Knowledge Systems
• +7 more

Dr. Stephanie Hladik is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering Education at the University of Manitoba's Price Faculty of Engineering. Holding a PhD in Educational Research from the University of Calgary, her research integrates engineering, education, and critical theory to promote equity in STEM. She teaches technology & society and engineering communication courses. Research examines facilitation in informal learning spaces (museums, makerspaces), sociocultural approaches to STEM identity, and equity-focused pedagogy. Publications emphasize design-based research, collaborative learning, and inclusive practices. She is not currently seeking graduate students.

• Engineering Education
• STEM Equity
• Qualitative Research
• +2 more

Kostas Arvanitis is a Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Museology, Institute for Cultural Practice, University of Manchester. His work bridges museology, archaeology, cultural heritage, and digital technology, focusing on innovative ways to enhance audience engagement and institutional performance through digital means. Institution: University of Manchester Department: Centre for Museology, Institute for Cultural Practice Academic Rank: Senior Lecturer Dr. Arvanitis's research centers on Digital Heritage, particularly the integration of digital technologies in museums and heritage sites. He investigates how mobile and social media can transform curation, interpretation, and public interaction. A key focus of his current work is the use of data to capture cultural experiences and inform performance appraisal within cultural organizations, as part of the Culture Metrics Project funded by the Digital R&D Fund for the Arts (Big Data strand). His broader interests include the museum representation of everyday life, professional standards in galleries and museums, and effective communication strategies for archaeological and built heritage. These interdisciplinary inquiries position him at the forefront of contemporary debates about democratizing heritage and redefining institutional authority through participatory practices. Although no recent publications or scientific awards are listed in the provided material, his active participation in international academic conferences such as ACHS 2016 underscores his ongoing contribution to the field. His session on 'Amphipolis 2.0: Authority, Archaeology and Social Media Activism' reflects a critical engagement with the power dynamics between official heritage narratives and grassroots digital activism. Advising and Grants: No information available on students or advisees. Currently involved in the Culture Metrics Project, supported by funding from the Digital R&D Fund for the Arts under its Big Data initiative. Labs and Research Teams: Member of the Centre for Museology within the Institute for Cultural Practice at the University of Manchester, contributing to research on digital interventions and co-production in heritage contexts.

• Digital Heritage
• Museology
• Cultural Heritage
• +12 more

Mélanie Roustan is an anthropologist and Assistant Professor at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, France. She teaches visitor studies in the Museum's Master in Museology program and conducts research in the PALOC laboratory (UMR Paloc), which focuses on heritage and territories. Her academic work bridges material culture studies with contemporary museum anthropology, examining how museums function as social spaces for working, visiting, and thinking about heritage, memory, and cosmology. Dr. Roustan's research interests include: Material Culture Studies Museum Anthropology Visitor Studies Anthropology of Smoking Heritage Studies Indigenous Paradigms in French Museums Zoological Gardens as Heritage Sites Her scholarly approach combines ethnographic fieldwork with theoretical analysis of museum practices and heritage politics. She has published extensively on museum anthropology, with notable works including 'Sous l'emprise des objets? Culture matérielle et autonomie' (2007), 'Voyage au Musée du quai Branly' (2012, with Octave Debary), and 'El museo y sus públicos. El visitante tiene la palabra' (2013, with Jacqueline Eidelman and Bernadette Goldstein). Dr. Roustan's recent publications (2019-2023) demonstrate a significant evolution in her research toward contemporary issues in museum anthropology, particularly focusing on digital transformations in museum practices, indigenous perspectives in French museums, and the heritagization of living animals in zoological gardens. Her work on French ambivalence toward indigenous concepts and the administration of digital collections in zoological parks represents cutting-edge research at the intersection of anthropology, heritage studies, and digital humanities. Her contributions to academic discourse include: Critical analysis of French museums' engagement with indigenous peoples Innovative research on living collections and biodiversity heritage Exploration of digital transformations in museum practices Examination of material culture in everyday life and museum contexts Comparative studies of heritage practices across national contexts Dr. Roustan actively participates in international academic conferences, including presenting on Maori exhibitions in Paris and Québec City, reflecting her commitment to cross-cultural dialogue and understanding in museum contexts. Her work consistently demonstrates methodological rigor and theoretical sophistication, making significant contributions to multiple fields within anthropology and museum studies.

• Anthropology
• Material Culture Studies
• Museum Anthropology
• +5 more

James A. Flath is a Professor in the Department of History at the University of Western Ontario. He holds a PhD from the University of British Columbia (2000). His research focuses on material culture of modern China and the history of Canada’s Prairie West. He is known for works such as Traces of the Sage (2016) and The Cult of Happiness (2004), which won the Raymond Klibansky Prize. His current project explores the boom-and-bust cycle of Fielding, Saskatchewan. Teaching responsibilities include courses on Chinese history and material culture supervision. Education: PhD in History, University of British Columbia, 2000 Research interests span Confucian monuments, folk art (nianhua), and prairie town dynamics. His work bridges art history, cultural memory, and spatial studies. The Nianhua Gallery website showcases his interdisciplinary approach to Chinese folk prints. Awards include the Raymond Klibansky Prize for The Cult of Happiness . Awards: 2005/06 Raymond Klibansky Prize Flath’s publications analyze sites like the Kong Temple, Lugou Bridge, and Yangliuqing woodblock prints. His recent work on Prairie ghost towns examines environmental and economic collapse. He supervises graduate research in modern China and Canadian regional history. Office: Lawson Hall 2234.

• Modern Chinese History
• Material Culture
• Heritage Studies
• +3 more

Mathieu Dormaels, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor at the University of Quebec in Montreal , specializing in Heritage Studies , Urban Planning , and Cultural Tourism . He actively participates in academic events focused on civic heritage engagement , landscape approaches , and community-based heritage . Current Role: Associate Professor at Université du Québec à Montréal Research Focus: Built heritage regulation, wind energy landscapes, participatory heritage management, and the interplay between universal/local heritage values. Event Moderation: He has moderated sessions on Engaged communities, civic heritage and participated in discussions about heritage and social change . Key Themes: Heritage policy, cultural landscapes, stakeholder dynamics, and sustainable development in urban and regional contexts. Academic Contributions: Dormaels has published extensively on topics including World Heritage site management in Peru, impacts of industrial heritage, and the role of museums in mediating cultural narratives. His work bridges theoretical frameworks with practical case studies in heritage conservation. Event Participation: Active in conferences addressing renaming/removal of heritage , industrial boom/bust , and cultural mediation , with a focus on balancing preservation, community needs, and economic development.

• Heritage Studies
• Urban Planning
• Cultural Tourism
• +3 more

Dr Lee Davidson is a Senior Lecturer in the Museum & Heritage Studies programme at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. She is actively engaged in interdisciplinary research and international academic collaboration, notably serving as a Visiting Professor at the Escuela Nacional de Conservación, Restauración y Museografía (ENCRyM) in Mexico for the past two years. Her research interests include visitor studies (theory and methods), intercultural museum practice, leisure and cultural tourism (history and contemporary practices). Her interdisciplinary work spans museum studies, anthropology, tourism, and heritage studies, with a strong focus on cross-cultural exchange, identity, and public engagement. The trends in her recent scholarly contributions reflect a deep engagement with intercultural heritage experiences, touring exhibitions, and the sociopolitical dimensions of museum practices. Her work explores how heritage is interpreted and experienced across borders, with particular attention to Indigenous representation, visitor meaning-making, and collaborative curation. Themes of cultural diplomacy, affect, and critical heritage theory recur throughout her publications and presentations. Senior Lecturer, Museum & Heritage Studies programme, Victoria University of Wellington Visiting Professor, International Course of Museology, ENCRyM, Mexico (2021–2023) Dr Davidson regularly presents at international conferences and delivers invited seminars, contributing to global academic discourse in museum and heritage studies. While specific grant and advising information is not available, her extensive participation in high-level academic forums suggests active research leadership and mentorship. She is involved in professional and academic networks centered on critical heritage studies, intercultural dialogue, and the role of museums in shaping historical consciousness and social change.

• Museum Studies
• Visitor Studies
• Intercultural Museum Practice
• +7 more

Ann Komaromi is a Professor in the Centre for Comparative Literature at the University of Toronto and holds an affiliated faculty role at the Centre for European and Eurasian Studies. Her research focuses on late Soviet culture, samizdat (underground publishing), dissidence, and modernist/avant-garde movements. She explores alternative publics and epistemologies in samizdat texts, alongside Jewish activism in Leningrad and post-War visual art's engagement with trash and used objects. Current projects include studies on dissident memoirs, a history of Soviet Jewish activism, and the role of discarded objects in museum exhibits. She co-led the Project for the Study of Dissidence and Samizdat , a digital archive of samizdat materials. No scientific awards are listed, but her work has been recognized through major publications and archival initiatives. She advises no listed students, though her research collaborations are central to her academic contributions.

• Late Soviet Culture
• Samizdat Studies
• Dissidence in USSR
• +5 more

Ann Marie Murnaghan is an Associate Professor in the Children, Childhood, and Youth Program within the Department of Humanities at York University's Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. She serves as Co-Lead of the Children and Young People Interdisciplinary Research Network at the Robarts Centre for Canadian Studies and is a Faculty Affiliate at The City Institute, York University. Dr. Murnaghan's research focuses on discourses of childhood, children's worlds and material cultures in cities, both historically and in contemporary contexts. Her expertise spans Children's Geographies, Urban Geography, Historical Geography, Children's Material Culture, Museum Studies, and Urban Political Ecology. Her previous research analyzed how playground material cultures influenced childhood discourses in early twentieth-century Toronto, while her current work examines museums as sites of children's informal education and identity formation using film studies, critical museology, and participatory methodologies. Dr. Murnaghan's scholarly contributions demonstrate a consistent focus on children's urban experiences with particular attention to historical contexts, material culture, and educational spaces. Her recent publications reveal an evolving research trajectory increasingly incorporating film studies and participatory methodologies to explore children's relationships with nature, cities, and cultural institutions. Principal Investigator of SSHRC-funded project Co-edited 'Children, Nature, Cities' (Routledge 2016) Award-winning teacher committed to community-oriented education Dr. Murnaghan earned her PhD in Human Geography from York University in 2010 after completing a BSc (Hons) at Queen's University and an MES at York University. She has held teaching positions at University of Manitoba and Ryerson University, and research fellowships at the Centre for Digital Humanities (Ryerson) and the Centre for Research in Young Peoples Texts and Cultures (University of Winnipeg). As an active academic leader, Dr. Murnaghan has co-organized multiple sessions at major conferences including the Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting and the Canadian Association of Geographers Annual Meeting. She previously served as International Liaison for the Geographic Perspectives on Women Specialty Group and as Communications Coordinator for the Canadian Women and Geography Study Group.

• Children's Geographies
• Urban Geography
• Historical Geography
• +3 more

Elizabeth Kryder-Reid is Professor of Anthropology and Museum Studies in the IU School of Liberal Arts at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), where she also serves as Director of the Cultural Heritage Research Center. She was formerly the Director of the IUPUI Museum Studies Program (1998–2013). Her research spans cultural heritage, landscape and power, historical archaeology, and public history, with a particular focus on the intersections of materiality, colonialism, and social inequality. She investigates how heritage is mobilized in social relationships, especially through landscapes such as the California missions and urban toxic sites. Her publications include the award-winning monograph California Mission Landscapes: Race, Memory, and the Politics of Heritage (2016), which examines how mission gardens have transformed sites of colonial violence into nostalgic, aestheticized spaces. She has also published on garden history, toxic heritage (e.g., dry cleaning pollution), and the pedagogy of discomfort in archaeology. Her recent work explores stakeholder-defined heritage, public art, and critical heritage theory. Her scholarly output includes numerous peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and editorial contributions, such as co-editing a special issue of the Journal of Garden History and contributing to Keywords in American Landscape Design . Her research often involves community collaboration and public engagement. She has received several honors, including: IUPUI Trustees Teaching Award (2003, 2013) AMM Professional Service Award AAUP Publication Grant (2008) Society of Architectural Historians’ Landscape History Essay Prize (2012) Multiple book awards for California Mission Landscapes , including the SAH MacDougall Book Award (2019) and the Vernacular Architecture Forum’s Cummings Prize (2018) She has led significant research initiatives, including the IMLS-funded 'Shaping Outcomes' project on outcomes-based planning for cultural institutions. She advises on heritage policy and interpretation and promotes critical, inclusive approaches to public memory and museum practice. She is actively involved in interdisciplinary and public-facing scholarship, working with communities to address environmental injustice and contested heritage.

• Cultural Heritage
• Landscape and Power
• Museology
• +12 more

Jennifer Carter is a Professor in the Department of Art History at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), where she also serves as Director of the graduate museology program. Her academic work bridges museology, art and architectural history, and social justice, with a focus on human rights museology and museum representation. PhD in History and Theory of Architecture, McGill University MA in Art History, School of the Art Institute of Chicago BA (Honours) in Art History, McGill University Her research explores how museums mediate and are shaped by cultural, political, and ethical frameworks. Two primary research axes include: (1) the role of museums in advancing human rights and social justice, particularly in institutions across Asia, North and South America; and (2) the interplay between museum architecture, exhibition design, and representation. These areas are supported by funding from SSHRC and FRQSC. The most recent publications reflect a strong interdisciplinary focus, combining museology with philosophy, architecture, and human rights discourse. Themes include curatorial ethics, national identity in museums, digital curation, and the semiotics of exhibition spaces. Her upcoming book, Museums in a Culture of Human Rights: New Museums Around the Globe , further consolidates her leadership in this emerging field. Scientific Recognition and Editorial Role: Associate Editor, Museum Management and Curatorship (Taylor & Francis / Routledge, UK, since 2013) Published in leading international journals such as Curator , MediaTropes , Information Research , and National Museums: New Studies from Around the World Jennifer Carter has held professional roles at the Canadian Centre for Architecture, Art Gallery of Ontario, and McGill’s Canadian Architecture Collection. She has co-curated exhibitions including Drawing from Ideas, Building from Books , Women and Homelessness , and Safdie's Sixties: Looking Forward to Looking Back . Prior to joining UQAM, she was a Professor in Museum Studies at the University of Toronto (2008–2011). She is currently leading a SSHRC- and FRQSC-funded research project on human rights museology, examining how justice and rights are negotiated curatorially and pedagogically in cultural institutions. No formal advising or team affiliations are mentioned, though her editorial and curatorial roles indicate strong collaborative engagement.

• Museology
• New Museologies
• Intangible Heritage
• +13 more

Professor Alexandra Bounia holds her academic position at the Department of Cultural Technology and Communication, University of the Aegean. She contributes to museum studies, collections management, and cultural theory through teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including joint courses with the University of Athens. Education: Archaeology & History of Art, University of Athens Museum Studies, University of Leicester Research Focus: Museology and heritage theory Classical collecting practices Digital interventions in museums Political dimensions of heritage Her publications explore themes such as: Material culture and archaeological ethics Technological applications in cultural preservation Evolution of national museums in Southern Europe Role of museums in conflict resolution and identity politics

• Museology
• Cultural Heritage
• Museum Studies
• +4 more

Julia Creet is a Professor in the Department of English at York University's Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. A leading scholar in Cultural Memory Studies, her interdisciplinary research spans Holocaust studies, documentary film, genealogy, and migration narratives. She directs documentary films exploring Holocaust memory and the genealogy industry. Research interests include: Holocaust testimonial literature Transnational memory practices Genealogy and identity Documentary film production Archival theory and practices Her publications demonstrate sustained engagement with memory across diverse media, from literary texts to digital archives. Recent work critically examines commercial genealogy databases and memorialization practices. Honors include: Canadian Jewish Literary Award (2016) York Research Leader Award (2017) US Holocaust Memorial Museum Fellowship (2014) Hadassah-Brandeis Institute Residency (2010-2011)

• Cultural Memory Studies
• Holocaust Studies
• Documentary Film
• +3 more

Jill Caskey is a Professor at the University of Toronto, holding dual appointments as Chair of the Department of Visual Studies at the Mississauga campus (UTM) and faculty in the Department of Art History at the St. George campus. Her cross-disciplinary role reflects her expertise in medieval art , architecture , and cultural exchange across the Mediterranean. PhD, Yale University MA, Yale University AB, Bryn Mawr College Her research focuses on cultural dynamics among religious communities in southern Italy and Sicily, examining portable arts , pilgrimage practices , and liturgical spaces . Caskey's work challenges traditional Eurocentric art historical narratives, advocating for a Global Middle Ages framework that highlights interconnected artistic traditions. Key publications include co-authoring the textbook Art and Architecture of the Middle Ages: Exploring a Connected World (2022) and analyzing case studies like the Angevin-era seal at Bari (2021), Salerno ivories, and Norman stucco reliefs. Her grants from the Getty Foundation , Kress Foundation , and SSHRC support fieldwork and collaborative initiatives like The Global Past Research Initiative (2023). Fellow, American Academy in Rome 2022-2024 Connaught Global Challenge Award Caskey's administrative service as Chair of Visual Studies and her contributions to academic discourse through conference presentations (e.g., 'Webs of Gold' at the 2022 Naples Field Seminar) further demonstrate her leadership in expanding medieval art historiography.

• Medieval Art
• Medieval Architecture
• Cultural Exchange
• +6 more