Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) moves a step closer to confronting its legacy connected to colonialism and imperialism with the appointment of Professor Robert Burroughs as Academic Lead for the Decolonial History Research Project.
The Decolonial History Research Project is part of LSTM’s journey to decolonise and become actively anti-racist. The initial phase of the project will examine the first 25 years of LSTM’s history and its colonial origins in early 20th century British imperialism.
Professor Burroughs is a cultural historian specialising in empire, humanitarianism, slavery, race, and Black British history and is an expert on King Leopold II's Congo Free State. He is also Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Leeds Beckett University.
On being appointed to the project, Professor Burroughs said: “I look forward to working with colleagues and external partners to examine this period in LSTM’s past. The project will require sensitivity and willingness to confront challenging subjects, and we can only do so by working in partnership to capture the history, voices and experiences of the communities who have been impacted by colonial activities.”
His appointment comes following three years of work led by LSTM’s ED&I Manager Samia Benbrih, in partnership with colleagues from across LSTM, and has been driven by a desire to deliver race equity in a meaningful and informed way, centring restorative action and equity.
To strengthen the integrity of the project LSTM has established an External Advisory Panel chaired by Professor Stephen Small, University of California, Berkeley and Professor Burroughs will work with the Panel, internal History and Heritage Group, the Archives team, and colleagues from across the school, and will be joined by the Post Doctoral Research Assistant once recruitment for this role is complete.
Professor Stephen Small said: “I welcome the appointment of Professor Rob Burroughs as the Academic Lead on the Decolonial History Research Project. He is a highly accomplished scholar of Empire who never fails to centre African and Black voices. His keen intellect and rigorous research will ensure that LSTM’s historical record is more accurate, more comprehensive and more complete than ever before. As chair of the project’s External Advisory Panel, I look forward to a collaborative endeavour that involves significant community involvement.”