Dr Hilary Bishop receives Fulbright Award to undertake research in the US
As a participant, Hilary has been selected from a strong applicant pool to research how Irish living heritage can be measured and managed using a values-based approach that goes beyond obvious success indicators such as visitor numbers, social media likes, and income from tourism.
Commenting on receiving the award, Hilary said: “Upon learning I had received the award I felt very humbled that I had been given such an amazing opportunity to go and research in New York. I am really looking forward to integrating myself into the Irish community there and to enjoying all the culture that the city has to offer.
“As a Fulbright scholar, I will be working alongside Irish and Irish Americans to record aspects of their living heritage in order to create a multi-layered representation of landscape known as a deep map. Rather than presenting a fixed view of a place, the deep map will invite users to visually explore the cultural history and heritage of the Irish landscape and develop new ways of thinking about place."
I hope this research will enable me to support future policymaking in respect to living heritage within the UK, Ireland and the USA. The project will provide economic impact beyond UK borders supporting Liverpool Business School's mission to stand out as a beacon of community and global engagement.
Dr Hilary Bishop
Maria Balinska, Executive Director US-UK Fulbright Commission, said: “Our vision is a world where there are no obstacles to learning, understanding and collaboration. Today there are many global challenges to overcome, and the world needs compassionate leaders to tackle them. This cohort of awardees will be placing cultural engagement at the heart of their experiences as they undertake ambitious study and research programmes in the US: I am filled with hope for the wonderful collaborations that will ensue.”
More about Hilary’s background and research
Hilary will be based at Glucksman Ireland House, New York University, where she will be working with Irish and Irish Americans to record their narratives in relation to the living heritage associated with Ireland’s Mass paths. Mass paths are an intimate part of the Irish landscape and provide a tangible link to Irish history and heritage, yet they have no official definition, status or protection. Many are being lost due to house building, infrastructure projects or changing farming practices. She aims to find new innovative ways of measuring and managing living heritage that can support future policy making and better support these historic pathways.
Bishop has secured a reputation as a leading practitioner in her field, recognised through Chartered Geographer status awarded by the Royal Geographical Society and she is also listed on the directory of experts of the British Association of Irish Studies. Her research into Catholic Mass sites and Mass paths in Ireland has provided one of the most comprehensive and multidimensional critical analyses of their significance in the retention of Catholic identity.
Bishop is most proud of her public website ‘Find a Mass rock’ which provides a free community resource and lists many of the Mass sites she has visited and researched. She is most excited about the opportunities that the Fulbright offers to immerse herself in the culture that New York has to offer and plans to make an initial beeline to Central Park which was modelled on a park in Birkenhead where she was born.
About the US-UK Fulbright Commission
The US-UK Fulbright Commission works to advance knowledge, promote civic engagement and develop compassionate leaders through education exchange between the peoples of the US and the UK. It is the only academic awards programme that operates on both sides of the Atlantic, providing grants for postgraduate study, research and teaching.
Since 1948, tens of thousands of British and American citizens have participated in their programmes, enriching their educations, developing relationships, advancing their careers and making a difference in their communities, at home and abroad. The Fulbright Programme of awards is now considered amongst the most prestigious scholarship awards globally, with 60 Nobel Laureates and 39 Heads of State/Government within its 390,000 global alumni.
About the awards
The US-UK Fulbright Commission provides the only bilateral, transatlantic scholarship programme in the UK, offering awards for study or research in any field, at any accredited US or UK university. The commission selects scholars through a rigorous application and interview process, looking for academic excellence alongside a focused application, cultural curiosity, a range of extracurricular and community activities, demonstrated ambassadorial skills, a desire to further the Fulbright mission and a plan to give back to the UK upon returning.
Typical grants include a contribution towards tuition fees and/or maintenance costs. Fulbright scholars receive administrative support and a cultural education programme including visa support, a comprehensive pre-departure orientation, enrichment opportunities while abroad, a re-entry session and access to a global alumni network.
