Adriana Arista Zerga

Adriana Arista Zerga is an Assistant Professor at the University of Nottingham in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures (Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin American Studies section). She holds a PhD in Social and Cultural Anthropology from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, a law degree, and a BA in Political Science from the National University of San Marcos in Lima, Peru. Her interdisciplinary work bridges cultural heritage, cultural human rights, and legal anthropology.

• PhD in Social and Cultural Anthropology, Autonomous University of Barcelona
• Bachelor's degree in Political Science, National University of San Marcos
• Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education, University of Nottingham

Her research focuses on the interplay between tangible and intangible cultural heritage, emphasizing community-centric perspectives beyond institutional inventories. Key themes include cultural law, foodways as heritage, memory studies, and the decolonization of curricula in Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin American Studies. She actively integrates research, teaching, and consultancy in her practice.

Adriana collaborates with international organizations such as UNESCO and the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB), as well as governmental and non-governmental entities in Peru and Spain. Her current projects include contributions to the UNESCO-led Atlas Foodway Project (2023-2026) and advocacy for interdisciplinary approaches to heritage legislation and cultural rights.

She is affiliated with networks and chapters including the Intangible Heritage (ICH) Network, Latin America/Caribbean, Mediterranean Chapter (MED-ACHS), and the United Kingdom Chapter of ACHS. Her work spans built heritage, ethnography, human rights, and postcolonial studies.