The College of Arts and Law welcomes two distinguished academics, whose exciting research encompasses indigenous heritage and global energy history.
Among the 11 new academics appointed in the University of Birmingham’s first round of 125th anniversary Fellow and Chairs scheme are two distinguished names who joined the Department of History this month. Professor Joy Porter and Dr Hiroki Shin will help the College of Arts and Law to strengthen in the key research areas of heritage and environment, as well as drive the University’s ambition to become a Top 50 global university.
Professor Joy Porter – who has become a 125th Anniversary Chair and is Professor of Indigenous and Environmental History – is an interdisciplinary researcher of Indigenous histories and heritage and leads the Treatied Spaces Research Group. The multimillion-pound project has been running since 2017 and aims to make historical treaties and environmental concerns central to education, policy and public understanding. Professor Charles Prior and Dr Kimberley Weir have also joined the University to continue their core roles within the project team.
Dr Hiroki Shin is a 125th Anniversary Fellow and Associate Professor in History of Energy and Environment. He joins from Queen’s University Belfast where he was a public historian working with numerous museums, including leading the Communicating Material Cultures of Energy project for London’s Science Museum. Dr Amy Matthewson has also joined the University of Birmingham to work with Dr Shin on his current project, examining the roles of cultural and heritage institutions in responding to today’s climate crisis.
This is a major investment in History and Heritage at the University, in recognition of the strategic alignment to our global top 50 ambition, and commitment to sustaining a thriving interdisciplinary offer in education and research. It is rare to get such an opportunity to appoint at this level and scale, within a flagship University scheme, and we are confident the new colleagues will bring energy, commitment, and collegiality to the School of History and Cultures, the College of Arts and Law, and the wider University.
These appointments are part of the successful first phase of a campaign to recruit 125 new Fellows and Chairs in celebration of the University’s 125th anniversary in 2025. The campaign seeks diverse talent from among the world’s best researchers to help change the way the world works. Applications for the next phase of the scheme open in October.
Professor of Indigenous and Environmental History
Biographical and contact information for Professor Joy Porter, Professor of Indigenous and Environmental History at the University of Birmingham.
Associate Professor in History of Energy and Environmental Humanities
Biographical and contact information for Dr Hiroki Shin, Associate Professor in History of Energy and Environmental Humanities at the University of Birmingham.
