APAC Labs researchers present findings abroad

Research specialists and graduate research assistants at APAC Labs attended a variety of conferences and symposia this spring, presenting the results of ongoing collaborative projects as well as PhD research. In April, APAC Labs researcher and Cyprus Institute PhD student Nicolette Levy attended the 6th International Graduate Conference in Late Antique, Islamic and Byzantine Studies at the University of Edinburgh. She presented a paper entitled “Communal Salvation? A Case Study of Community Patronage in Latin Cyprus”, which explores the unique case of the Church of Agios Sozomenos in Galata and its 14 donors listed in the dedicatory inscription. Through an examination of this and other communally sponsored churches, Nicolette contextualized the rarity of this practice in Cyprus compared to other parts of the Byzantine, Frankish, and Venetian Eastern Mediterranean, offering new insights into the complex dynamics of local Cypriot villages during the Latin period. This research was conducted within the framework of her PhD project, which explores the role of the artist in Latin Cyprus through an interdisciplinary investigation of his materials and techniques.

In May, APAC Labs researchers Valentina Vassallo and Anastasia Tsagka attended the The CAA 2025 Conference: "Digital Horizons: Embracing Heritage in an Evolving World" in Athens. Valentina and Anastasia took part in the ATRIUM project session, where they presented the use case on the Ayios Ioannis Lampadistis Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Cyprus. Their presentation, entitled "A 3D-based Workflow For Built Heritage: The Case Study of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Ayios Ioannis Lampadistis Monastery, Cyprus", focused on how digital documentation and 3D workflows can support heritage preservation and accessibility. The case study is part of Anastasia’s PhD topic developed in the framework of ATRIUM project.

While in Athens, Valentina Vassallo also participated in the CAA 2025 workshop “Opportunities and Tools from the Cultural Heritage Cloud for Digital Archaeology”. This deep dive into digital tools, research infrastructure, and collaboration opportunities shaping the future of archaeology provided an ideal platform to share updates on the ECHOES project. Dr. Vassallo moderated an interactive session of the workshop called: “Collaborative Research Scenarios with and from the archaeological community”. The session’s participants engaged in discussions on collaborative workflows, advanced data integration, and tools to enhance digital documentation and analysis. Through discussions and group exchanges, the session explored how the Cultural Heritage Cloud can support research, tackle challenges in digital archaeology, and foster sustainable collaboration.