DCU History & Geography postgraduate student publishes with The Conversation

We are delighted to announce the publication of a photo essay in The Conversation by DCU History & Geography postgraduate researcher Kristina van Kuyck, who is being supervised by Dr Jonathan Cherry as part of her doctoral studies.

Kristina’s article, Baltic states have torn down their Soviet past following Ukraine war – a photo essay, explores how the war in Ukraine has accelerated efforts across the Baltic states to confront and dismantle their Soviet past. Using photography and critical commentary, the essay documents the removal of Soviet-era monuments and memorials in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and considers the broader cultural and political meanings of these acts.

The piece highlights how historical memory, contested heritage, and geopolitics intersect in the built environment, and how visual documentation can powerfully capture processes of cultural change. Kristina’s work draws attention to how societies actively reshape their landscapes to reflect shifting identities and values in response to international geopolitical events.

The School congratulates Kristina on this accomplishment and looks forward to seeing her future contributions to scholarship and public engagement on an important topic.