People

Dr Paola Di Giuseppantonio Di Franco

Senior Lecturer
School of Philosophical, Historical, and Interdisciplinary Studies
Dr Paola Di Giuseppantonio Di Franco

Profile

Biography

I am a UKRI Future Leader Fellow, Round 6, and Senior Lecturer in Heritage and Digital Humanities. At Essex, I had the invaluable opportunity to establish undergraduate and post-graduate heritage programmes, and to serve as former director of the MA in Heritage and Museum Studies. My research explores the intersection of material culture, heritage, and cognitive science, with a focus on the impact of new technologies on heritage-making and interpretation of past processes. My UKRI FLF project, titled "REbuilding a sense of PLACE (REPLACE): The socio-cultural role of 3D technologies in increasing community resilience after 'natural disasters'," aims to enhance community resilience following natural catastrophes by investigating the socio-cultural potential of 3D technologies in rebuilding a sense of place. This research enables communities to prepare for, respond to, recover from, mitigate the effects of, and adapt to natural catastrophes. In addition to my UKRI FLF, I have previously held a Marie Skłodowska Curie fellowship at the University of Cambridge and an Eastern ARC fellowship. These prestigious grants have facilitated the development of two additional research strands. The first strand examines the role of 3D digital and printed replicas of artefacts, as well as digital soundscapes, in enriching the processes of meaning-making and interaction with historical material culture within museum settings. Specifically, I explore how 3D virtual and material replicas, along with object-based soundscapes, can redefine authenticity and enhance more immersive and emotionally impactful museum displays. Notable projects within this strand include "DIGIFACTS" and "Neurocuration". The second strand focuses on collaborative initiatives with small and medium enterprises as well as educators, with the goal of leveraging novel pedagogies and 3D technologies to enhance young people's critical engagement with the complexity of their heritage in conflict-affected countries. For instance, I co-developed the "Ksar Said: A Virtual Experience" project in Tunis, supported by the British Council Cultural Protection Fund. This collaboration involved the University of Cambridge's Faculty of Education (Co-I), the Virtual Experience company (PI), and the Rambourg Foundation (Partner). Presently, I am trying to co-develop similar research programmes in Syria and Lebanon. My research outputs encompass practice-based work, as well as publications in reputable journals and books. I am honoured to have recently received the BAFTSS Practice Research Innovation award for co-directing the film "Italia Terremotata." This film showcases the resilience of communities in post-earthquake Italy, highlighting their stories and experiences. By blending my expertise in heritage, digital humanities, and cognitive science, I aim to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in understanding the dynamic relationship between technology, culture, and the preservation of our shared heritage. You can view my full CV here: https://essex.academia.edu/PaolaDiGiuseppantonioDiFranco/CurriculumVitae

Qualifications

  • Ph.D. University of California, Merced, (2014)

  • Post-graduate Specialisation Diploma in Late Antiquity and Medieval Archaeology Sapienza University of Rome, (2008)

  • BA+MSc Sapienza University of Rome, (2004)

Appointments

University of Essex

  • Senior Lecturer in Heritage and Digital Humanities, School of Philosophy and Art History and Interdisciplinary Studies Centre, University of Essex (1/10/2022 - present)

  • Lecturer in Heritage and Digital Humanities, School of Philosophy and Art History and Interdisciplinary Studies Centre, University of Essex (1/1/2021 - 30/9/2022)

  • Eastern ARC Fellow in the Digital Humanities, SPAH, University of Essex (1/1/2018 - 31/12/2020)

Other academic

  • Affiliated Member, Cambridge Heritage Research centre, University of Cambridge (1/2/2019 - present)

  • Marie Skłodowska Curie Fellow, McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, Cambridge University (15/9/2014 - 14/6/2017)

Research and professional activities

Research interests

Disaster Heritage

Open to supervise

Community Resilience

Open to supervise

Heritage and Sense of Place

Open to supervise

Digital Replicas of Heritage

Open to supervise

Virtual Museums

Open to supervise

Digital Heritage

Open to supervise

Immersive environments for Heritage and Museums

Open to supervise

The Heritage of Natural Catastrophes

Open to supervise

Affect, Cognition and Perception in Digital Heritage Studies

Open to supervise

Video Ethnography for Heritage Studies

Open to supervise

Conferences and presentations

The Art Museum in the Digital Age

Conference, 17/1/2022

Online Legacies & Cultural Heritage

Invited presentation, Web3D2021, University of Pisa and online, Pisa, Italy, 10/11/2021

YUFE Post-Doctoral Scheme

Invited presentation, Keynote presentation, Conference, Bremen, Bremen, Germany, 18/10/2021

Teaching and supervision

Current teaching responsibilities

  • Heritage and Human Rights (AR959)

  • Interdisciplinary Research and Problem-Solving: An Introduction (CS111)

  • Digital Heritage (CS901)

  • Exhibition and Portfolio (AR952)

  • Exhibition (Joint Project) (AR953)

Publications

Journal articles (10)

Di Giuseppantonio Di Franco, P., Galeazzi, F. and Camporesi, C., 3D Virtual Dig: a 3D Application for Teaching Fieldwork in Archaeology. Internet Archaeology. 32 (32)

Baraldo, M. and Di Giuseppantonio Di Franco, P., (2024). Place-centred emerging technologies for disaster management: A scoping review. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. 112, 104782-104782

Galeazzi, F., Di Franco, PDG., Toulson, R., Camporesi, C. and Patel, S., (2023). Earthquakes, communities and heritage: Telling stories of resilience through co-designed immersive media. Visual Studies. 38 (1), 101-118

Al-Taie, I., Di Giuseppantonio Di Franco, P., Tymkiw, M., Williams, D. and Daly, I., (2022). Sonic enhancement of virtual exhibits. PLoS One. 17 (8), e0269370-e0269370

Multiple Authors, (2021). Special Issue: "Heritage Education for Sustainable Development". Sustainability. 12 (20)

Di Giuseppantonio Di Franco, P., Winterbottom, M., Galeazzi, F. and Gogan, M., (2019). Ksar Said: Building Tunisian young people's critical engagement with their heritage. Sustainability. 11 (5), 1373-1373

Galeazziup, F. and Di Giuseppantonio Di Franco, P., (2017). Theorising 3D Visualisation Systems in Archaeology: Towards more effective design, evaluations and life cycles. Internet Archaeology. 44 (44)

Di Giuseppantonio Di Franco, P., Matthews, JL. and Matlock, T., (2016). Framing the past: How virtual experience affects bodily description of artefacts. Journal of Cultural Heritage. 17, 179-187

Di Giuseppantonio Di Franco, P., Camporesi, C., Galeazzi, F. and Kallmann, M., (2015). 3D Printing and Immersive Visualization for Improved Perception of Ancient Artifacts. Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments. 24 (3), 243-264

Galeazzi, F., Di Giuseppantonio Di Franco, P. and Matthews, JL., (2015). Comparing 2D pictures with 3D replicas for the digital preservation and analysis of tangible heritage. Museum Management and Curatorship. 30 (5), 462-483

Books (2)

Di Giuseppantonio Di Franco, P., Galeazzi, F. and Vassallo, V., (2018). Authenticity and cultural heritage in the age of 3D digital reproductions. McDonald Institute. 978-1-902937-85-4

Di Giuseppantonio Di Franco, P. and Valesi, M., (2013). From Monadism to Nomadism: A Hybrid Approach to Cultural Productions. eScholarship publishing

Book chapters (10)

Di Giuseppantonio Di Franco, P., (2022). The Ontology of 3D Digital and Printed Replicas of Artifacts Inside Museums: Authenticity, Play, and the Sense of Touch. In: Critical Archaeology in the Digital Age. Editors: Garstki, K., . COTSEN INSTITUTE OF ARCHAEOLOGY PRESS. 11- 22. 978-1-950446-30-8

Di Giuseppantonio Di Franco, P., Galeazzi, F. and Vassallo, V., (2018). Why authenticity still matters today.. In: Authenticity and cultural heritage in the age of 3D digital reproductions. Editors: Di Giuseppantonio Di Franco, P., Galeazzi, F. and Vassallo, V., . McDonald Institute. 978-1-902937-85-4

Di Giuseppantonio Di Franco, P., (2011). Insediamenti rupestri e territorio. La Valle Nepesina durante il Medioevo.. In: Insediamenti rupestri di età medievale nell'Italia centrale e meridionale L'organizzazione dello spazio nella mappatura dell'abitato. Atti del II Convegno Nazionale di Studi (Vasanello - VT, 24-25 ottobre 2009). Editors: De Minicis, E., . Kappa. 9788865140956

Di Giuseppantonio Di Franco, P. and Galeazzi, F., (2010). 3D Cybermaps of Western Han Mural Tombs. In: Cyber-Archaeology. BAR. 9781407307213

Di Giuseppantonio Di Franco, P., Forte, M., Dell'Unto, N., Galeazzi, F., Liuzza, C. and Pescarin, S., (2010). The virtual museum of the Western Han Dynasty: 3D documentation and interpretation. In: Space, Time, Place. Third International Conference on Remote Sensing in Archaeology, 17th-21st August 2009, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India. Editors: Forte, M., Campana, S. and Liuzza, C., . BAR. 9781407306599

Di Giuseppantonio Di Franco, P., (2010). Grasping the Materiality of the Past: Digital Archaeology in Lower-Division Courses. In: Creating Academic Community for First-Generation College Students. A Graduate Students Instructor Guidebook. Editors: Zanzucchi, A., . eScholarship publishing

Di Giuseppantonio Di Franco, P., Desiderio, V., Dal Miglio, P., Giannini, N., Fiordiponti, T., Orazi, S. and Tozzi, R., (2009). Metodologie di approccio allo studio degli abitati rupestri medievali nel Lazio. In: Uomo e territorio: dinamiche di popolamento e sfruttamento delle risorse nell’antichità.. Editors: Melis, MG., . 492- 500

Di Giuseppantonio Di Franco, P. and Orazi, S., (2008). Insediamenti fortificati e abitati rupestri: il caso di Torre dell’Isola. In: Insediamenti rupestri di età medievale abitazioni e strutture produttive : Italia centrale e meridionale : atti del Convegno di studio, Grottaferrata, 27-29 ottobre 2005. Editors: De Minicis, E., . CISAM. 978-88-7988-126-5

Di Giuseppantonio Di Franco, P., (2005). L’abitato rupestre di Torre dell’Isola. In: Il tesoro delle città. Strenna dell'Associazione «Storia della città». Editors: Guidoni, E., . Edizioni Kappa. 88-7890-702-2

Di Giuseppantonio Di Franco, P., Guerrini, P. and Orazi, S., (2003). Trasformazione dell’insediamento rurale nel territorio dell’Umbria: il caso delle 'villae'. Alcune considerazioni. In: I Longobardi dei ducati di Spoleto e Benevento. 1. Editors: Ermini Pani, L., . CISAM. 1377- 1419. 8879881159. 9788879881159

Reports and Papers (1)

Di Giuseppantonio Di Franco, P., Forte, M. and Issavi, J., ÇATALHÖYÜK 2010 ARCHIVE REPORT. Space 344 and Building 86.

Exhibitions (1)

Di Giuseppantonio Di Franco, P., Roots and Wings: Objects, Stories, and People recount Senerchia

Media (2)

Di Giuseppantonio Di Franco, P. and Galeazzi, F., Documentary: Italia Terremotata. Video

Virtual Experience Company, Gogan, M., Winterbottom, M., Di Giuseppantonio Di Franco, P. and Galeazzi, F., Ksar Said. A Virtual Experience. Image

Other (2)

Di Giuseppantonio Di Franco, P., (2018).Review of A. Falcone & A. D’Eredità (eds). ArcheoSocial. L’archeologia riscrive il web: esperienze, strategie e buone , Rende (CS): Dielle Editore, 2018, 195 pp.. EX NOVO Journal of Archaeology. 3

Di Giuseppantonio Di Franco, P., (2014).“Handle” with Care: The Practice of Exhibiting Religious Objects inside Museums. Current Anthropology. 55(6),University of Chicago Press

Grants and funding

2024

Building Museum Collections on the Street: The Museum of the Resilience of Accumoli

UOE Participatory Research Fund

2023

REWilding and restoration inteRtIdal sedimenT Ecosystem for carbon sequestration, climate adaptation and biodiversity support

European Commission

2022

REbuilding a sense of PLACE (REPLACE): The socio-cultural role of 3D technologies in increasing community resilience after natural disasters

Medical Research Council

2019

Workshop: Building young Lebanese�s engagement with their heritage.

University of Essex (GCRF)

Contact

pd17425@essex.ac.uk
+44 (0) 1206 872716

Location:

6.127, Colchester Campus