What does the future of archaeology look like, and who are the people shaping it? Join us for a special edition of our ‘This is Archaeology’ series as we hand over the microphone to those defining the future of the sector. This showcase event celebrates the vital and innovative work being done by professionals in the early stages of their careers.
This showcase celebrates the wide spectrum of career paths that make up the modern heritage sector and is a unique opportunity to hear fresh perspectives and learn about the cutting-edge projects and new challenges that are defining the discipline today.
In a fast-paced, ‘mini-conference’ format, we will be joined by a panel of speakers who will each deliver a short, dynamic presentation. After the talks, you’ll have the chance to put your questions directly to the speakers in a moderated Q&A session.
This event is run in partnership with the CIfA Early Careers Special Interest Group to champion and celebrate the essential contribution of new professionals to the sector.
The Panel
What isn’t Digital Archaeology? A showcase of digital heritage projects
Dushyant Naresh
I am an archaeologist and multimedia producer specialising in heritage visualisation, science communication, and immersive experiences. I hold an MSc in Digital Archaeology at the University of York and a BA in Anthropology at Vassar College in the US. Currently, I am a Research Associate at the Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity at the University of York, focusing on creating a digital toolkit to contextualise and explore landscapes across time, incorporating historical, environmental, and ecological records.
Previously, I was a researcher at Visualising Heritage (University of Bradford), where I worked with the Bradford City Council and the National Trust to build interactive communication tools for archaeology and public planning, from an AR geophysical survey tour of Fountains Abbey to an animated, 3D printed cityscape. In essence, I serve as a conduit between academia and the public through narrative-driven interactive digital heritage experiences.
A Day Amongst The Dead
Katie Pulham
Katie Pulham is a data scientist, author, cemetery historian, and preservation researcher whose work explores the intersection of material culture, historical data, and public memory. She has documented and cataloged approximately 14,000 gravestones throughout Connecticut, using cemetery landscapes to examine how communities record identity, loss, and social history.
Her focus is on making cemetery research accessible through storytelling, preservation, data analysis, and popular culture. She graduated from Western Connecticut State University, has given a TED talk on gravestone data, hosts the Association for Gravestone Studies monthly book club, and has written multiple books on the topic.
Hemp Retting at East Harling? Evidence from a Ghost Pingo
Pariya Mollahoseini
Pariya Mollahoseini is an archaeologist specialising in archaeobotany. She recently completed her MSc in Archaeology at Leiden University after earning her BA in Archaeology from the University of Tehran, where she also completed a minor in Plant Biology.
Her experience includes archaeobotanical research, laboratory work, and collections-based projects. She has also been a member of excavation teams during archaeological fieldwork projects in Iran. She has worked with archaeological and environmental material from Iran and the United Kingdom. Her experience in archaeobotany includes working with both macroremains and microremains. Her main research interest is past plant use and human-plant relationships
