Heritage, Cultures and Communities research

This research theme spans a wide range of research that explores different cultures, heritage, and the ways in which contemporary communities create identities and social cohesion. It encompasses a variety of human endeavours from questions of ethics, faith, and gender, to the use of AI in the design of public spaces and buildings.

Researchers within the theme of Heritage, Cultures, and Communities investigate how these and other topics are translated and mediated through performance, narratives, images, and material cultures. Ultimately, we are working towards an improved future for our cities and communities.

The breadth of research within this theme highlights the interconnectedness of contemporary cultures and the ways in which our past and present influences our thinking about our future.

Explore our key projects and find out about our links to the research centres and groups, degree courses, and PhD opportunities that come under our research theme.

Professor Constantine Sandis, FRSA

Constantine Sandis is a Professor of Philosophy in the School of Humanities. His primary research relates to the understanding other people across different periods and places, as well as the explanation of the behaviour of (human and non-human) beings more generally. He also works on related issues in cultural heritage ethics, AI Intelligibility, gender, and Wittgenstein.

His publications include The Things We Do and Why We Do Them (2012), Cultural Heritage Ethics (2015), Character and Causation: Hume’s Philosophy of Action (2019), and Raisons et responsabilité (2021). He is currently working on a book on How to Understand Others (for Yale University Press). In his role as theme champion, he is keen to support early career researchers as well as more experienced colleagues, to create a research environment that encourages fruitful collaboration and exchange across subjects and schools.

Theme Champion

View profile

Research Centres and Groups

Heritage, Cultures and Communities research at the University of Hertfordshire takes place across a number of Research Centres, Groups and disciplines:

• Centre for Agriculture, Food and Environmental Management (CAFEM)
• Centre for Climate Change Research (C3R)
• Centre for Computer Science and Informatics Research (CCSIR)
• Centre for Educational Leadership
• Centre for Engineering Research (CER)
• Centre for Future Studies Research
• Centre for Research in Public Health and Community Care (CRIPACC)
• Contemporary Arts Practice Group
• English literature research
• Heritage Hub
• History Research
• Linguistic research
• Media Research Group (Creative Arts)
• Media Research Group (Humanities)
• Philosophy research
• Theorising Visual Art and Design (TVAD)

Doctorates, degrees and courses

We offer one of the most diverse range of research degree programmes in the UK.

• Master of Arts by Research (MA by research)
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
• Design - Professional Doctorate (DDES)
• English Studies - Masters by Research/PhD
• Fine Arts - Professional Doctorate (DFA)
• Heritage - Professional Doctorate (DHeritage)
• History - Masters by Research/PhD
• Linguistics - Masters by Research/PhD
• Music - Masters by Research/PhD
• Philosophy - Masters by Research/PhD

Visit our Doctoral College to find out more.

Get in touch

For more information about our Heritage, Cultures and Communities theme, please contact Professor Constantine Sandis.