Second Dissertation Conference for History Undergraduates

On Wednesday 8 March, the History team at Northumbria University is hosting its second undergraduate dissertation conference, following on from the success of last year’s inaugural event. Eighteen final-year students will present the research from their dissertation projects, which will be due for submission in the coming weeks. The event is open to students, staff and members of the public who are interested in finding out about the work done by students on History-themed courses at Northumbria University.

Prior to the delivery of the student presentations, keynote lectures will be given by Dr Katherine Wilson (Chester University) and Professor David Saunders (Newcastle University). They will outline their research trajectories and share their personal experiences as professional historians. Dr Wilson is a specialist in the social and cultural history of the later Middle Ages, in particular the Burgundian Netherlands; Professor Saunders is a specialist in the history of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union.  Professor Saunders will also be discussing links between the Russian Revolutions and Tyneside.

The conference programme can be accessed here.  A jury of Northumbria University academics from Humanities-based subjects will also adjudicate and award prizes to the best presentations given on the day. Proceedings will conclude with a reception at which the awards will be presented.

The event is coordinated by Dr Daniel Laqua, Senior Lecturer in European History, together with a team of second-year students (Alex Cassley, Chloe Corrigan, Anna Erskine, Emily Harrington, Scott Isles, Victoria Kundu) who have volunteered to help prepare for the conference. In 2016, the inaugural History Dissertation Conference was held with funding from Northumbria University’s Teaching Quality Enhancement Fund (TQEF). Several contributors to last year’s event are now featured in the university’s online repository forexcellent History dissertations.