Representing the Holocaust and combatting Antisemitism at the intersection of research and impact

We are delighted to welcome Prof. Maiken Umbach to our History Research Seminar series. Maiken will be joining us on Tuesday 15 October, 4.15-5.30pm in The Diamond, workroom 3. She will be presenting a paper entitled 'Representing the Holocaust and combatting Antisemitism at the intersection of research and impact'.

Maiken Umbach is Professor of Modern History at the University of Nottingham. She is the author of four academic monographs, ten edited volumes, and numerous articles dealing with European identity politics, Jewish history, the Holocaust, and the use of photos as historical evidence. She now works on a long-term secondment as Chief Academic Adviser to the National Holocaust Centre and Museum.

Abstract:

This talk discusses challenges and opportunities of creating a 'virtuous cycle' between historical research and impact. Drawing on my own experience of leading two impact case studies and preparing two future ones, I explore the significance of team work across disciplinary divides. The talk will discuss a range of impact projects: the creation of several different touring exhibitions -- on Holocaust photography, on Jewish identities, and on combatting antisemitism -- a major re-structing of a national museum, and specialist training programmes for secondary and tertiary education and beyond. All of these were based not just on my own research, but made possible by research collaborations with colleagues in Education, in Computer Science and in Politics. At the same time, meaningful impact often relies on relationships of trust with outside partners, which can take years to build, and often requires a single point of contact. Impact, then, is a balancing act between a sustained personal commitment and the more fluid dynamics of teamwork. It is also a balancing act between long-term research and the agility and fast pace of creative industries and politics. This can be stressful, unsettling, disruptive -- but also productive: and it might point to the need to re-think how we do, and evaluate, research in the Humanities itself.