My name is Julia, and I will be joining the Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies as a 4+4 PhD student. The working title of my project is “Heritage of precarious times: towards ecological futures of the Białowieża Forest”. 

My theoretical background is in critical heritage studies. But most importantly, I try to be open-minded in my research, because I am interested in what is interdisciplinary and happens at the crossroads of disciplines. 

I received a BA degree in Liberal Arts from the University of Warsaw, which I defended with distinction in 2023. In my thesis I analyzed the historical and cultural background of Jewish cemeteries in Poland, considering affirmative scenarios for their future in light of imminent loss. 

My PhD research focuses on the heritage-border intersections that occur in the Białowieża Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The project engages with a dialogue between heritage studies and the natural sciences. Through my work, I aim to demonstrate the connection between heritage-making practices and current social, economic, political and ecological issues.

Contact: 
Julia Ciolek
School of Culture and Society
Moesgård Allé 20
8270 Højbjerg
jc@cas.au.dk