Projects on banned books will support Academic Freedoms Research Network

The Centre of Governance and Human Rights’ Academic Freedoms Research Network, supported by CRASSH, will advance three projects related to banned book collections.

First, CGHR has set up a “blind date with a banned book” installation in the Alison Richard Building, featuring a rotating cast of books that are, or have been, banned somewhere. Each book has a sleeve explaining where it was banned, when and why. 

Second, led by CGHR Research Assistant Selena Cai, a student research team has been recruited to investigate the political economy of banned book circulation, networks behind preserving banned books, and materiality of banned books. The group will prepare an interactive map on global banned books and the networks which retained their access. Users can read specifics about banned books located around the world by clicking on icons or scanning QR codes on geographic markers.

Finally, the Research Network will convene a scrapbooking activity in which guests can cut and paste different excerpts with book titles, thematic considerations, and images. This will subsequently function as an interactive exhibit to get visitors thinking about banned books around the world.

For more information on the CRASSH Academic Freedoms Research Network, visit: https://www.crassh.cam.ac.uk/research/networks/academic-freedoms/.