Our Team

Meet our team. COLUMN brings together nine partners
from eight countries on three continents

Gertjan Plets

Project Leader

Gertjan Plets is Associate Professor of cultural history and heritage at Utrecht University. As the Project Leader he is responsible for overall project coordination, covering technical, scientific, legal, financial, and administrative aspects.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9858-3464

Myrthe van Groningen

Project Manager

Myrthe van Groningen is project manager at Utrecht University. Myrthe oversees all project activities, encompassing dissemination and exploitation.

Work Package Leaders

Work Package leaders ensure timely progress within their packages by creating work plans and related documentation. They build bridges between the different tasks and ensure the transfer of knowledge.

Markéta
Křížová

Markéta Křížová is professor of Ibero-American Studies at the Faculty of Arts at Charles University. Markéta is PI and leader of Histories of Colonial Science.
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1914-3477

Siona
O’Connell

Siona O’Connell is professor at the University of Pretoria. As a renowned scholar and documentary maker, Siona bridges scholarly and art/creative methodologies. Siona is PI and leader of Heritage practices of Coloniality.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5773-1969

Maria Giovanna Belcastro

Maria Giovanna Belcastro is professor at the Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences at Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna and she is director of the Museum of Evolution in Bologna. Maria Giovanna is PI and leader of the University Museums and their Anthropological Collections.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8932-8509

Nick
Shepherd

Nick Shepherd is an Associate Professor of Archaeology and Heritage Studies at Aarhus University, and an Extraordinary Professor at the University of Pretoria. Nick is PI and leader of the University Campuses.
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3378-7076

Richard
Calis

Richard Calis is Assistant Professor in Cultural History at Utrecht University and is specialized in the history of science and intellectual history He is PI of the Botanical Gardens together with Mette Bruinsma.
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4627-9564

Mette
Bruinsma

Mette Bruinsma is Assistant Professor Cultural History at Utrecht University. She is specialized in the history of science and University history. Together with Richard Calis she is PI of the Botanical Gardens.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5256-1470

Peter Billie
Larsen

Peter Billie Larsen is researcher at the Environmental Governance and Sustainable Development Institute as well as the Department of Sociology at the University of Geneva.  Peter is PI and leader of the Intangible Legacies.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8908-1788

Bernadette
Biedermann

Bernadette Biedermann is researcher at University Graz. As an art historian and museologist, she also part of the managing team of the University Museum of Graz is currently the coordinator of the Coimbra group on university heritage. She is PI for Policy and Exploitation.
https ://orcid.org/0000-0001-5042-6008

Sterre
Berentzen

Sterre Berentzen is project manager at Studio Louter. Studio Louter is an exhibition concept designer. In COLUMN, the studio assumes a central role in converting the project’s findings into material that can be repurposed by the heritage sector.

Contributors

Gijs
Steur

Gijs Steur is curator at Utrecht University Botanic Gardens, and Assistant Professor on Plant Diversity and Ecosystem Services at the Quantitative Biodiversity Dynamics research unit at Utrecht University. Gijs is a contributor to the Botanical Gardens cluster.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9273-5105

Rosa
de Jong

Rosa de Jong is a postdoctoral researcher at the Cultural History section of the Department of History and Art History at Utrecht University. Rosa is a contributor to the Botanical Gardens cluster.
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3896-4000

Eliza
Zschuschen

Eliza Zschuschen is head of the National Herbarium of Suriname at Anton de Kom Universiteit van Suriname. Eliza is a contributor to the Botanical Gardens cluster.

Dorothy
Traag

Dorothy Traag is senior researcher and contributor to the Botanical Gardens cluster.

Monica
Azzolini

Monica Azzolini is an Associate Professor at the Department of Philosophy at the University of Bologna with expertise in the History of Science. Monica is a contributor to the Botanical Gardens cluster.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3311-7251

Juri
Nascimbene

Juri Nascimbene is a professor of Systematic Botany at the University of Bologna. Juri’s research focuses on Lichenology, and his expertise includes floristics, taxonomy, distribution, and conservation of lichens in terrestrial ecosystems. Juri is a contributor to the Botanical Gardens cluster .
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9174-654X

Suzanne
van der Wateren

Suzanne van der Wateren is the head of the University Museum Utrecht’s Visitor and Presentation Department. Suzanne is a contributor to the Collections cluster.

Ilze
Wolff

Ilze Wolff is an architect and chair in Architecture at the University of Liverpool. Ilze is a contributor to the University Campuses cluster.

Ondřej
Crhák

Ondřej Crhák is a researcher at Náprstek Museum of Asian, African and American Cultures (National Museum) and Charles University. Ondřej is a contributor to WP Histories of Colonial Science.
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1320-9906

Nina
Wanča

Nina Wanča is an assistant professor at the Faculty of Arts at Charles University. Her research focuses on the use of new media and technologies in museums and exhibitions. Nina is a contributor to WP Histories of Colonial Science.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8432-9123

José Luis Escalona
Victoria

José Luis Escalona Victoria is a researcher at Centro de Investigación y Estudios Superiores en Antropología Social (CIESAS) in Mexico and a Visiting researcher at Charles University. José Luis is a contributor to WP Histories of Colonial Science.
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1783-0142

Bonita
Bennett

Bonita Bennett is a researcher at the University of Pretoria. Bonita is a contributor to WP Heritage practices of Coloniality.
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2652-7540

Nicola
Booysen

Nicola Booysen is a researcher at the University of Pretoria. Nicola is a contributor to WP Heritage practices of Coloniality

Dominique
Wnuczek-Lobaczewski

Dominique Wnuczek-Lobaczewski is a researcher at the University of Pretoria. Dominique is a contributor to WP Heritage practices of Coloniality.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7588-9663

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