Key research pillars

Heritage research encompasses a wide range of topics and disciplines. Here at the Heritage Institute, we have created five key pillars under which work across the University can be grouped.

A sign in a desert landscape which says 'Welcome to Roebourne'

Difficult heritage

Difficult heritage focuses on the role of heritage in post-conflict transformation and transitional justice contexts, acknowledging a wider and often subtle conflict heritage landscape and focusing on resilience building, collective healing and well-being.

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Heritage on the fringes

Heritage can be a catalyst for action in economically, culturally and environmentally marginal regions. Climate change directly threatens world heritage, but disproportionately threatens heritage in the global south and the world’s arid margins.
A woman looking at a wall-mounted display board with an image of a building on it

Digital heritage futures

Managing heritage is forward-looking; it aims to employ heritage as a tangible developmental asset. The Institute’s research and impact activities will develop carefully considered options for stakeholders, policy makers and professionals.
Hands holding old envelopes and letters

Heritage policies and processes

We will address the emerging ethical and legal considerations for heritage protection in developing policies, guidelines and legal frameworks, and methodologies and good practice, ensuring protection, ownership (physical and intellectual) and repatriation.

Structures on a marshland

Cross-cutting research

Many of our research activities explore multiple themes, and support and contribute to several pillars within the Institute.
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Collaborate with us

Find out more about the technology and services available with our research partners at the Digital Innovation Facility (DIF).