Global Heritage Symposium

Networked Heritage – Collaborative Strategies for Global Research

Current research results from international cultural researchers will be presented as part of a hybrid global heritage symposium: Networked Heritage – Collaborative Strategies for Global Research.

FH Münster University of Applied Sciences
Technology Campus Steinfurt
Creative Technologies Lab, E-015
Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024

The symposium “Networked Heritage – Collaborative Strategies for Global Research” offers an international platform for the exchange of research results and ideas. The focus is on promoting global collaborations that advance research in the areas of cultural heritage, digital networking and collaborative strategies. In particular, the use of the collaboration platform “Heritage Universe” will be discussed, which was developed over the last two years by the international team HeritageLab.Center.

Special Guest: The Global HeritageLab.

The Global HeritageLab is a research center that focuses on the development and protection of cultural heritage through interdisciplinary and collaborative research. The center identifies global challenges in the field of cultural heritage, develops innovative methods for preserving and sharing cultural knowledge, tests these approaches in real-world scenarios and shares the lessons learned to promote their application worldwide. HeritageLab.Center was founded by an international team of experts and partner institutions to support a global discourse and practical solutions for heritage preservation in an increasingly interconnected world.

With more than 20 research projects and partnerships in over 10 countries to date, HeritageLab.Center has already reached numerous stakeholders in the field of cultural heritage and supported the development of sustainable conservation strategies. The center works closely with cultural institutions, universities and innovative technology partners to achieve both scientific and practical progress. The symposium will present the innovative approaches and best practices of HeritageLab.Center and promote the exchange of new strategies and future collaborations.

Pictures from the event

Article: Kulturelles Erbe erhalten und weitergeben

Schedule for the event

internal session 10AM – 2PM (closed for public)
10:00–12:00	Workshop	HeritageLab.center Workshop	closed for public
12:00–13:00	lunch	Campus Cafeteria
13:00–14:00	campus tour	tour through Technology Campus incl. visit of IKFM – Institute for Construction and Functional Materials (visit of Lab for Analytics)	Prof. Dr. Martin Kreyenschmidt, FH Münster, Department of Chemistry
public session 2PM – 6PM (open to public)
14:00–14:05		Welcome Speech	Prof. Dr. Reinhart Job (Dean, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, FH Münster University of Applied Sciences) Dr. Reinhart Job is a German physicist with extensive electronics and silicon technology expertise. He earned his PhD and habilitation at Ruhr-University Bochum and the University of Hagen, respectively. He progressed through various academic roles at Ruhr-University and FernUniversität Hagen. Since 2011, he has been a professor at Münster University of Applied Sciences, where he became Dean in 2013. His research includes international fellowships in Japan and a guest professorship in France, focusing on electronic components and defect engineering.
14:05–14:15		Introduction to a day full of Networked Heritage	Moderator: Prof. Felix Beck, FH Münster University of Applied Sciences, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Felix Hardmood Beck is a professor and researcher in media design and creative technologies, currently leading the Creative Technology Lab at the FH Münster University of Applied Sciences. With a background in spatial experience design and human-computer interaction, his work bridges digital media, interactive installations, and multidisciplinary design approaches. He also directs design projects for global exhibitions and museums, focusing on innovative installations that engage audiences through immersive and interactive experiences.
14:15–14:30		Prompts of Day Ava Abtahi will present three prompts to generate discussion during the symposium. The aim is to reflect on HeritageLab and discuss the next steps to improve it.	Ava Abtahi Ava Abtahi is a student in the final year of the “Cultural Anthropology & Development Sociology” Bachelor’s study program at Leiden University, The Netherlands. After that, she would like to pursue a Master’s Degree in Heritage Studies. She is currently interning at CIE (Center for International Heritage Activities) and helping organize the symposium.
14:30–15:00	Presentation 1	An overview on 30 years of heritage activities The HeritageLab and its associated Heritage Constellation have been developed based on over thirty years of global field experience, involving numerous experts, stakeholders, and communities. In this presentation, Robert Parthesius provides an overview of the diverse projects organized by the CIE - Centre for International Heritage Activities - and reflects on the lessons learned. He discusses the development of critical approaches to heritage management that ultimately led to the creation of the HeritageLab methodology.	Prof. Dr. Robert Parthesius, CIE Center for Heritage Activities Amsterdam Prof. Dr. Robert Parthesius is a maritime historical archaeologist and heritage scholar who founded the Centre for International Heritage Activities (CIE) in Amsterdam in 2005 and served as its director for over a decade. He holds a doctorate in the History of European Expansion from the University of Amsterdam and has previously worked as a curator at the Amsterdam Historical Museum. Until November 2024 he served as Associate Professor at NYU Abu Dhabi where he acted as and director of the Dhakira–Center for Heritage Studies, focusing on developing the field of heritage and museum studies.
15:00–15:15	Presentation 2	TreeRouted The “Tree Routed” project explores the intersections of cultural heritage, nature, and digital technology by mapping and digitally archiving significant trees across various landscapes. Through immersive technologies, the project creates interactive narratives that highlight each tree’s historical, cultural, and ecological significance. The goal is to deepen public engagement with environmental heritage and foster a greater appreciation of natural landmarks. By leveraging digital storytelling, “Tree Routed” connects communities to their local environments in a meaningful and sustainable way. This innovative approach preserves natural heritage while promoting environmental awareness and conservation.	Project by Prof. Dr. Alia Yunis, The Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington Alia Yunis is a scholar, filmmaker, and writer whose work primarily engages with memory and heritage, particularly in the Arab and Muslim worlds and their diaspora. She has taught film and heritage studies at NYU Abu Dhabi and Zayed University for 14 years. Her feature documentary, “The Golden Harvest,” explores the interconnected histories of the olive tree and continues to be showcased in festivals and other venues. The project will be presented by Dev Kalaviyda with Hassan Hamdani Hussain Over the years, the concept of the HeritageLab has evolved organically into a collaborative platform involving a diverse range of participants. This includes not only heritage experts and local communities directly connected to specific heritage sites or intangible practices, but also students and volunteers from various disciplinary backgrounds, who have been instrumental in shaping the platform’s inclusive approach. In this presentation, former students Dev Kalaviyda and Hassan Hamdani Hussain share their experiences with the HeritageLab. As a case study, they present TreeRouted, a platform and interactive documentary, for exploring environmental heritage and how it connects communities around the world.
15:15–15:30	Presentation 3	Behind the scenes – A demonstration of how to create a Parallel Universe A presentation of concept and technical demonstration as a proposal for an easily scalable and adaptable web-based system for mapping and tagging heritage related data, including right and access management for communities.	Yuni Nguyen (she/her), FH Münster University of Applied Sciences (Computer Science, year of 2026) Yuni Nguyen is a student research assistant of Professor Felix Beck.
15:30–16:30	Presentation 4	Digital Heritage: The Journey from Replica Creation to Virtual Reality Presentation Filipovic’s projects, ReImagining the Past: Al Jazirah Al Hamra, presents VR narratives of the historical UAE village Al Jazirah Al Hamra. Exhibited at multiple venues, it aims to bring immersive, educational experiences to audiences by virtually preserving and presenting the architecture and stories of the village. This project was awarded AMPS Intellect MEDIATED CITY Award in 2021. Projects Stecar3D and VR Visitor Center - Necropolis Koposici and medieval Bosnian Dubrovnik have been presented throughout Galleries, Museums and conferences in Bosnia and Herzegovina. These projects are part of Filipovic's broader focus on VR as a tool for cultural preservation, merging storytelling with technology to create impactful, educational experiences in heritage preservation contexts.	Prof. Zlatan Filipovic, American University of Sharjah, College of Architecture, Art and Desig Zlatan Filipovic has been involved in notable VR projects centered on cultural heritage, particularly in the United Arab Emirates as well as in Bosnia and Herzegovina. His work includes the Wadi Al Helo project, a collaborative VR initiative between the American University of Sharjah (AUS), University of the Arts Berlin, and NYUAD, aimed at documenting and narrating the history of this significant heritage site. The VR experience created for Wadi Al Helo showcases historical elements like ancient watchtowers and village ruins within the valley, allowing users to explore the site's landscapes and narratives interactively. This project was developed to support Sharjah's efforts to achieve UNESCO World Heritage recognition for the area.
VR tech demo (Filipovic & Hrólfsson) + coffee break
16:45–17:15	Presentation 5	Digital Heritage in Korea GLAM, an acronym for Galleries, Libraries, Archives, Museums, shares cultural heritage with the public through exhibitions, restorations and classifications. Today, these institutions are also expected to integrate digital content, using immersive spaces, interactive installations, XR experiences and other platforms to showcase the potential of digital heritage. Through GLAM’s digital narratives, we experience the knowledge, memory, and aesthetics of national heritage beyond dimensions and time.	Prof. Dr. Chen Wuwei, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University Chen Wu-Wei is an Associate Professor of Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. He is the co-author of Digital Cultural Heritage published by Springer, moderator of SIGGRAPH Asia workshops, Chair of ISDH (Daejeon, Korea), and an editorial board member of Computer System Networking and Telecommunications. Prof. Chen focuses on the digital heritage imaging of caves and niches in the Asia-Pacific region and collaborates with colleagues of NYU Abu-Dhabi. Currently, Chen works on Central Java’s tangible and intangible cultural heritage. Research site: www.bodyasechoes.com/dha
17:15–17:45	Presentation 6	On the Pedagogy of Heritage: The Mission and Vision of EduHub This presentation explores EduHub, the educational arm of the HeritageLab Center, as an essential archive and learning platform. EduHub supports heritage practitioners by fostering knowledge in material culture, museum studies and civic engagement, promoting a reflective, ethical approach to heritage. By bridging theory and practice, EduHub empowers a new generation of culturally aware stewards that aligns with HeritageLab’s mission to provide accessible, dynamic resources for the global heritage landscape. EduHub’s editor and lead writer will discuss its mission, vision and upcoming projects, showcasing its role as a key resource for heritage education.	Dr. Alia Soliman, The UK Association for Art History Alia Soliman, PhD in Cultural Studies from University College London, specializes in 20th-century and contemporary visual art and critical theory. She teaches Languages, Literatures, Cultures and Art History at NYUAD and other institutions. Soliman has published extensively, including her 2024 book The Doppelgänger in Our Time: Visions of Alterity in Literature, Visual Culture, and New Media and two creative critical essays in CounterText. She is a writer and editor for HeritageLab and an educational communication consultant.
17:45–18:15	Presentation 7	Shaping History Together: The Baumberg Sandstone Museum as a Participatory Experience The presentation highlights the museum's upcoming renovation and the development of a new participatory concept to guide this transformation. The presentation will explain the significance of participation in creating meaningful experiences and enhancing community engagement. Attendees will be introduced to an innovative approach designed to foster interactivity and collaboration, ultimately reshaping the museum into a vibrant cultural hub that is welcoming to all. By emphasizing the importance of strong community connections, the presentation outlines how this participatory vision will elevate the museum’s role as a dynamic space for everyone.	Angela Heinemann, M.A. Phil., Director The Baumberg Sandstone Museum, Angela Heinemann studied history, German and applied cultural studies in Münster. After completing her Master's degree, she was a research assistant at an institutional college working on the topic of “Future Action” at the University of Duisburg-Essen. Her work’s focus was historical emotion research and research on nationalism and feelings. Angela Heinemann worked in an interdisciplinary manner in emotion research and was involved in brain research (neurobiology) for many years. She has been directing the Baumberger Sandstone Museum since August 2023 and is responsible for reorienting the museum's content and networking. Saskia Löwenkamp, Dipl. Geogr., Public and Cultural Relations, The Baumberg Sandstone Museum Saskia Löwenkamp has studied Cultural Geography with a focus on tourism and city development. After her diploma, she then worked in different branches e.g. in the tourism sector, or managed her own Café. Since November 2023 she has been in charge of Public and Cultural Relations at the Baumberger Sandstone Museum. In her free time, she likes to go hiking and traveling with her family. Aiko Hagino, FH Münster, Münster School of Design (year of 2026) Aiko Hagino is a Design Student with prior studies in Screenwriting and Game Design. She possesses experience across various fields, including work as a freelance illustrator and a translator for Japanese, German and English. Currently, she is an intern at the Sandstone Museum, where she is responsible for graphic design work, contributes ideas to the conceptualization process, and acts as a bridge between FH Münster and the museum.
18:15–18:45	Presentation 8	Immersive Media In his presentation Arni explores how VR storytelling can preserve heritage and deepen audience engagement with history and culture through projects like Time Tunnel and Finding the Past in Iceland. 20 min presentation + 10 min VR demo	Árni Rúnar Hrólfsson, ARH Immersive Media Árni Rúnar Hrólfsson, a graduate of the Icelandic Film School, is a filmmaker specializing in 360° and VR media. Since 2016, he has collaborated with leading institutions to create immersive experiences that connect audiences to heritage through nature, history, and culture.
18:45–19:00	Wrap-Up	Outro	Feeedback by the community, moderated and summarised by Prof. Felix Beck.

Registration

To attend the afternoon session (2PM until 6PM) online there is no need to register. Feel free to join the zoom session at any time.

If you like to attend the Symposium in person and join the conversations at the Creative Technologies Lab located in Building E, Room E-015, at the Technology-Campus in Steinfurt, please register via email to Prof. Felix Beck (felix.beck@fh-muenster.de).

Place

Fachhochschule Münster
Technology Campus Steinfurt
Creative Technologies Lab
Building E, Room E-015
Stegerwaldstraße 39
48565 Steinfurt

Creative Technologies Lab | dokuWiki

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