Personal Statement
Dr. Ataa Alsalloum, an architect by training and lecturer in Architecture and Urban Heritage at the Liverpool School of Architecture (LSA), boasts a rich history in academia and fieldwork, having held prominent positions at Damascus University and other Syrian institutions from 2011 to 2016. Honored as a research fellow by the University of Liverpool in 2016, she has since 2017 dedicated her expertise to LSA, diving deep into sustainable heritage management, exploring both global policy and community perspectives. As a vital contributor to ArCHIAM from 2017 to 2021, Ataa played instrumental roles in projects across Qatar, Oman, Morocco, and India, emphasizing sustainable heritage, urban architectural research, and comprehensive documentation methods. Her leadership was pivotal in the digitization of archives, community outreach, and heritage education.

Passionate about heritage-led sustainable management, Ataa's research spans the Middle East and North Africa, the heritage landscapes of the UK such as Liverpool and Bath, and the intangible cultural heritage of diaspora, with a spotlight on Syrian communities in the UK. Read more.

Dr. Ataa Alsalloum holds a distinguished position as a member of the University of Liverpool Senate and is an integral figure in heritage and architectural education. Affiliated with the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC), she not only chairs the ICOMOS-UK Education, Training and Events Committee but also serves as an Expert Member of the International Scientific Committee of ICOMOS on Education and Training (CIF).

At the Liverpool School of Architecture (LSA), she masterminded and now directs the MA in Sustainable Heritage Management , garnering recognition from IHBC, the UK's leading body for building conservation and historic environment expertise.

Innovating in research-led education, Ataa and Dr. Nick Webb co-founded a a heritage related design studio in BA3, reflecting one of the University of Liverpool's key research themes: Heritage. Furthermore, she actively contributes as a member of both The Architectural and Urban History Group and the Religious Studies at Liverpool.

Research Overview
My research primarily revolves around the sustainable management of both tangible and intangible cultural heritage, with a special focus on the UK, as well as the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. My studies have also extended to regions including the Arab Gulf and India.

I spearheaded the creation of teaching materials based on the AKHCP archive, complemented by additional content from ArCHIAM. This endeavor was supported by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. Through this process, my passion for devising innovative methodologies for teaching, interpreting, and showcasing cultural heritage assets has deepened.

My interests span the safeguarding and sustenance of intangible cultural heritage within indigenous communities, and extend to those in exile and diaspora. I am also keenly invested in heritage-driven approaches to regeneration, renovation, adaptive re-use, reconstruction, rehabilitation, and restoration of urban spaces, buildings, and monuments. Currently, my investigations are centered on heritage-led post-conflict reconstruction and reconciliation within the MENA region.

Local and international heritage policies, along with guidance principles, form a cornerstone of my research endeavors and publications.

Ataa is in the process of drafting a proposal for an edited collection that delves into the interplay of migration and intangible cultural heritage in modern-day Britain. The focal point of this collection will be practice-based research methodologies. For a deeper insight, you can access further details here.