Maria Elena Seu

Maria Elena Seu is a researcher at the Institute of Mediterranean Studies (ISMed-CNR) in Milan, where she has been working since March 2024. Previously, she was a fixed-term researcher at the Institute of the History of Mediterranean Europe since 2023 and a research fellow at the Institute of History of Mediterranean Europe (Isem-CNR) in Cagliari from October 2017 to 2023.

She earned her degree in European History from the University of Bologna in 2008 and subsequently received a scholarship from the Department of History and Art History at the University of Trieste through the Master and Back project funded by the Autonomous Region of Sardinia. This same project funded her research grant at the Institute of Mediterranean European History (ISEM-CNR) in Cagliari from 2010 to 2012.

Maria Elena Seu's research focuses on contemporary history, particularly cultural heritage and urban history between the 20th and 21st centuries. Her work also encompasses studies on 21st-century immigration, with a focus on Mediterranean migration patterns and reception systems. She has conducted extensive research on Sardinian history, coastal towers, urban gardens, and cultural heritage preservation.

Her publications reveal a strong interdisciplinary approach, bridging history, urban studies, cultural heritage, and migration studies. She has particularly focused on Mediterranean contexts, with special attention to Sardinia and Italian urban environments. Her research demonstrates an engagement with both theoretical frameworks and practical applications in cultural heritage management and migration policy.

• Mediterranean History and Cultural Heritage: Extensive work on Sardinian coastal towers and historical preservation
• Urban Studies: Research on urban gardens as cultural and social spaces in contemporary cities
• Migration Studies: Analysis of 21st-century immigration patterns and reception systems in Mediterranean contexts

Maria Elena Seu has been actively involved in Third Mission activities related to migration since 2017, collaborating on projects including Migration & the Mediterranean (Sardinia Observatory), Multihortis, Filhortis, and Urbes Rura, which focused on developing training courses for migrants in reception centers.

She has also contributed to current research on the history of Asinara island, examining its transformation from historical site to National Park and Marine Protected Area through photographic sources of cultural heritage.