A PhD student has been awarded a prestigious scholarship for her research into the politics of the centenary commemorations of the First World War.

Kristin O’Donnell will spend two years at Cumberland Lodge in Windsor Great Park, an institution with a reputation for exploring complex societal issues. She is one of only 10 PhD students across the UK so secure one of the placements.

Kristin said: “I am absolutely delighted to be awarded a Cumberland Lodge scholarship and really excited to contribute to the important conversations they facilitate.

“Having recently attended the ‘Difficult Histories & Positive Identities’ event I’ve seen first-hand the way that Cumberland Lodge can create meaningful connections between scholars, activists, and policymakers working towards the betterment of society.

“This scholarship will provide me with incredible opportunities to meet a wide range of people working towards social justice issues as well as providing me with training in public speaking and mentoring in intellectual leadership.”

Kristin O’Donnell is a doctoral student based in the Centre for Memory, Narratives and History in the School of Humanities at the University of Brighton.

Her research engages with the intersections of history, memory, and art, with a particular focus on identity and the politics of war commemoration.

In her research project, entitled ‘Participatory Practices of Memory: Memorialising the Great War in Britain during the Centenary Moment’, Kristin explores the relationship between communication, identity formation and nationalism which she hopes will inform inclusive ethical commemorative practices in the future.

Kristin, who lives in Hastings, wrote her undergraduate dissertation on the rise of “romantic tourism” in Hastings with a particular focus on Hastings castle as an early heritage tourism site.

For more information about the Cumberland Lodge Scholarship Programme