This volume is a monograph documenting the virtual reconstruction projects of the Temple of Baalshamin, one of the most significant forms of tangible heritage belonging to the Syrian community, destroyed as a result of terrorist attacks. Through a series of workshops with Syrian communities—including refugees, displaced persons, and individuals who have experienced either forced or voluntary migration—the virtual reconstruction is presented as a process that supports social inclusion and the reconstruction of cultural identity.
This volume is a monograph documenting the virtual reconstruction projects of the Temple of Baalshamin, one of the most significant forms of tangible heritage belonging to the Syrian community, destroyed as a result of terrorist attacks. Through a series of workshops with Syrian communities—including refugees, displaced persons, and individuals who have experienced either forced or voluntary migration—the virtual reconstruction is presented as a process that supports social inclusion and the reconstruction of cultural identity.
The CIVIS Open Lab VERIS project (Voices of Palmyra: Engaging (In)tangible Memorial Heritage in Social Innovation for Refugee Inclusion), developed by the University of Lausanne, the University of Bucharest, and the University of Glasgow through Professors Patrick M. Michel, Oana Șerban, and Brittnee Leysen, in conjunction with the SMOC project (Sustainable Management in Cultural Organizations), developed by the UNESCO Chair in Interculturality, Good Governance and Sustainable Development, hosted a series of activities bringing together vulnerable target groups and professionals to explore the biopolitical and memorial implications of the virtual reconstruction of destroyed heritage.
This album constitutes the visual archive of the VERIS project. Its purpose is to create a dialogue between the (in)tangible cultural heritage of the Temple of Baalshamin and the civilization of Palmyra, on the one hand, and the testimonies and narratives of refugees from conflict-affected Middle Eastern countries, on the other. In doing so, it seeks to strengthen the social inclusion of these vulnerable non-European communities across Europe while raising awareness of the vital role of culture in building bridges and fostering connections between communities marked by historical trauma.
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Challenge-based learning approach in course design (2026)
This module is part of a broader upskilling initiative aimed at educators who wish to learn how to apply innovative methodologies to their teaching practice.- Challenged-based approach
- Course, module or learning opportunity
- Academics
- Researchers
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Imagining Homeland: Palmyra's (in)tangible heritage and the voices of displacement
This volume is a monograph documenting the virtual reconstruction projects of the Temple of Baalshamin, one of the most significant forms of tangible heritage belonging to the Syrian community, destroyed as a result of terrorist attacks. Through a series of workshops with Syrian communities—including refugees, displaced persons, and individuals who have experienced either forced or voluntary migration—the virtual reconstruction is presented as a process that supports social inclusion and the reconstruction of cultural identity.- Communication and Dissemination
- Cultural heritage
- E-book
- Students
- Academics
- Researchers
- Civil society