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How is the uncertainty of the deep future conceived of and managed in different fields of conservation practice?

What do we mean when we say ‘forever’? In this theme, we compared three domains and explored how they can challenge, inform and strengthen each other: the heritage ‘forever’ that is present in designations like UNESCO’s World Heritage Site; the ‘forever’ of messages sent to deep space; and the ‘forever’ of nuclear waste disposal. We asked how these different futures are constructed and manipulated in the present. How can we recognise these futures in the world around us? Heritage is often said to be the human legacy preserved for the benefit of future generations. However, it typically remains unclear precisely when these future generations will live and how we can make the right decisions in the present with their best interests in mind. The main challenge lies in how to prepare for the future’s inherent uncertainty. The aim is to capitalise on the creative potential released by the common acknowledgement across these organisations of an uncertain future, with the intention to conceive of heritage differently. What happens when we come to see nuclear waste as heritage? How can a space message transform the human legacy? Can heritage help us reduce risks of future development on Earth? We specifically explored how the proposed Lake District World Heritage Site operationalises such visions of uncertain futures.

Interventions

Talk

Heritage Futures at the 2018 Association of Critical Heritage Studies Conference

06/09/2018

Members of the Heritage Futures research team will be convening and presenting at seven sessions at the Association for Critical Heritage Studies 2018 conference at Zheijang University in Hangzhou, China from 1st-6th September.

 

If you’re heading there, come check out (at least) one of our sessions. Or follow our twitter @Future_Heritage and website for updates resulting from these sessions.

 

Uncertainty
Transformation
Profusion
Diversity

Interventions

Exhibition

Los ecos del Proyecto Huemul

10/07/2017

An exhibition, part of the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)-Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) Restricted Access Pilot Project, awarded to Rodney Harrison (Professor of Heritage Studies, UCL Institute of Archaeology) and Trinidad Rico (Director of Cultural Heritage and Preservation Studies at Rutgers University and Honorary Senior Lecturer, UCL Institute of Archaeology), will be hosted from this week at the Balseiro Institute in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina.

Rodney Harrison

Uncertainty
Transformation

Nuclear Waste Management
Natural Heritage Management
Built Heritage Management

Interventions

Talk

Afterlives Salon

02/03/2017

This salon to accompany the current Octagon exhibition Cabinets of Consequence will explore how heritage and other related forms of conservation practices (including nuclear waste management) make futures.  How do we use material culture to stitch futures from pasts? What do we conserve? What do we get rid of? What do we allow to change? This Salon will be staged as a series of conversations across various themes currently being explored within the Heritage Futures research programme,Event held at Haldane Room, Wilkins Building , Gower Street WC1

Rodney Harrison
Cornelius Holtorf
Caitlin DeSilvey
Sefryn Penrose
Sarah May
Jennie Morgan
Nadia Bartolini
Antony Lyons
Kyle Lee Crossett

Uncertainty
Transformation
Profusion
Diversity

Nuclear Waste Management
Deep Space Messaging
World Heritage Site Management
Natural Heritage Management
Built Heritage Management
Homes
Museums
Biodiversity
Cultural Diversity