February 2021 Monthly Update
As February 2021 comes to an end, let’s take a look at some of the projects the DRAGEN Lab has been working on this past month. We will also share some news updates on opportunities offered through the Lab.
Herstmonceux Virtual Tour
Have you ever wondered how Herstmonceux Castle was affected by the Second World War?
The DRAGEN Lab team is busy at work creating a curated virtual tour of the Herstmonceux Castle to illustrate the changes that occurred during WWII. This project, conducted in concert with tourism Prof. David Brown at Brock University, aims to shed light on an interesting part of the Castle’s history often overlooked by visitors. The tour covers the period leading up to WWII and the WWII era. This project demonstrates how the surrounding landscape and Herstmonceux estate were altered during this period. Topics covered throughout the tour include the introduction of manmade features like bunkers, wooden huts, tunnels, and trenches, as well as bomb crash sites. Many of these features can still be seen today bringing modern relevance to a historical tour.
The tour features archival images, private letters, historical research, authentic audio commentary, and 3D models of buildings. The tour is being created by master’s students Erin Kurian, Zack Kachuk, Jacqueline Gergal, and Anthony Crocco-Montagano.
The second phase of the project is already in motion; the pre-war period. Initially, this project began in Summer 2020 with a virtual tour of WW2 Herstmonceux created with the Google Tours platform. In the past few months, the tour has been expanded to include the pre-war period and also includes a view of the interior rooms of the castle, as well as the gardens and the large 600-acre estate. The most recent version of the tour utilizes the GuideTags platform to present the viewer with an in-depth view into the interwar period and WWII Herstmonceux. In the future, we hope to combine this tour with Google Glasses and Google Expeditions technologies so that visitors can experience this curated tour with virtual reality.
Stay tuned to learn more about this project and to view the virtual tour once it is published!
Environmental History Displays
The DRAGEN Lab team is creating virtual displays for the Herstmonceux Castle highlighting the periods of the Medieval Climate Optimum and the Little Ice Age.
Two displays are being created for public exhibits in Sussex. The first will be an animation of the Medieval Climate Optimum and the Little Ice Age in East Sussex and Southern England, where the Herstmonceux Castle is located. The second part of this project will result in an educational video that explores the Medieval Climate Optimum and the Little Ice Age from a global perspective.
May 26, 2021 update: Two videos have been produced and are embedded here below, please see our new blog post to learn more!
These resources will be utilized at the Observatory Science Centre at Herstmonceux Castle to teach visitors about climatic and environmental change. These videos demonstrate how studying environmental change in the past improves awareness around current and future discussions around climate change.
Master’s students Erin Kurian, Zack Kachuk, and Jacqueline Gergal are currently working on this project. Keep an eye out for future updates to learn more!
Apply for the Summer 2021 Archaeology with the Castle Online Program
Immerse yourself in history and archaeological discovery this summer in an online term with the Bader International Study Center!
This program is a great opportunity for students interested in archeology, or any student who wants to experience British archeology and history! Over six weeks online you will take CLST 408/6.0 Archeology Fieldwork Practicum. There are five $900 DRAGEN Lab scholarships available for registered University of Waterloo students and five $900 scholarships also available for registered Queen’s University students. The Bader International Student Centre offers the perfect environment for studying archeology virtually.
During the six-week program, you will have the opportunity to apply your studies to the first-ever excavation of Herstmonceux Castle’s Gamekeeper Lodge! Expand your knowledge on guided virtual excursions to places like the Museum of London and British Museum, allowing you to broaden your perspective by experiencing key British heritage institutions.
The application deadline is April 1, 2021. Click here to learn more.
Subscribe to our Monthly Email Updates
Along with the new blog page, the DRAGEN Lab will be sending out monthly updates to keep students and partners updated on events, opportunities, and projects. Stay up to date with the Lab by entering your email address below
COVID-19 Update
As a general update, the DRAGEN Lab remains closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In-person research is not currently taking place as the DRAGENs are working at home according to provincial government health guidelines. The DRAGEN Lab is staying connected with the team virtually through weekly Zoom meetings every Thursday morning at 9:30am. All team members are welcome to join!