IMC 2024: Sessions

What can medieval history contribute to contemporary issues in heritage and policy? In this round table, medievalists working between academia and heritage will discuss how their public-facing research has intersected with or addressed current crises or priorities in the public sphere, from well-being, social prescribing, and climate change, to 'Levelling Up', community engagement, and equality and diversity. Drawing on wide-ranging case studies across multiple heritage contexts and partners - from the tangible to the intangible - the participants in this round table will demonstrate how they, as medievalists, have delivered collaborative projects with a modern-day relevance. During the discussion, the speakers will explore how their specific subject matter, skills, and methodologies as medievalists have proven particularly advantageous, or indeed posed specific challenges, to their policy-facing collaborations and projects. Ultimately, this round table will show the rich and varied ways in which heritage collaborations centred on the medieval past speak to - and help address - pressing issues in the 21st century.

Participants include Johanna Dale (University College London), Lucinda Dean (University of the Highlands & Islands, Dornoch), Christian Frost (London Metropolitan University), and Antonio Sennis (University College London).