Cutting edge University of Leeds arts and humanities research displayed at LAHRI showcase

The University of Leeds has one of the broadest portfolios in the arts and humanities in the UK with a community spanning 15 Schools and 3 Faculties

Cutting edge arts and humanities research went on display at the University of Leeds this week at a showcase organised by LAHRI (Leeds Arts and Humanities Research Institute) to celebrate the diversity and impact of the University’s AHRC-supported projects.

The University of Leeds has one of the broadest portfolios in the arts and humanities in the UK, including the creative arts and technologies, with a community spanning 15 Schools and 3 Faculties.

Professor William Gould (second from left) from the School of History talks visitors through his research project, 'The Other from Within: Indian Anthropologists and the Birth of the Nation’. Photo credit: Dustin Smith, Skywall Photography.

On Wednesday 6 November visitors to the research showcase in Parkinson Court browsed poster displays on a broad range of subjects, from climate change politics in the post-truth era, to film costumes, and a class-based analysis of the television industry, to blood donation and contested belonging in East Asia.

The project leads also engaged in discussion with the AHRC’s Executive Chair, Christopher Smith, about the impact of their projects.

Professor Catherine Davies, Dean for Research Culture and Professor of Language Development in the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies (left), with Christopher Smith, Executive Chair of the AHRC. Photo credit: Dustin Smith, Skywall Photography.

The event underscored the contributions that researchers in the arts and humanities make to the complex and difficult challenges facing society, the value of interdisciplinary research, and the importance of research funding opportunities for academics at all career stages.

Dr Jieun Kim, Associate Professor of East Asian Studies in the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies, by the display on her research project, ‘Blood Donation and Contested Belonging in East Asia.’ Photo credit: Dustin Smith, Skywall Photography.

Professor Nick Plant, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation, who attended the showcase, said:

“It was great to see just how much brilliant and varied arts and humanities research is being undertaken right across the University. The breadth of research on display at the showcase was a real testament not just to the talent, ideas and ingenuity of our arts and humanities researchers but also to the strength of our interdisciplinary approach here at Leeds. Many thanks to Christopher Smith for joining us today – we are grateful to the AHRC for their ongoing support.”

Dr Alex Bamji, Director of LAHRI, said:

“This showcase was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our vibrant and diverse portfolio of AHRC-support research. As our researchers demonstrate, the arts and humanities are not just fascinating subjects in their own right – they are a vital means of exploring complex and urgent issues.”

Professor Christopher Smith, Executive Chair of the AHRC, said:

“I am always impressed by the breadth and depth of arts and humanities research activity at the University of Leeds, so it was a great pleasure to meet those behind the projects and hear more about the transformative impact of their work. The projects on display exemplify the power of arts and humanities research to capture peoples’ imaginations, yield new insights and build connections across disciplines and communities. We at the AHRC are proud to support such research and I look forward to returning to Leeds soon.”

Find our more and connect with the University’s AHRC-supported researchers at www.lahri.leeds.ac.uk.

Main image photo credit: Dustin Smith, Skywall Photography.