By providing job and research opportunities, the HeRe Lab plays a key role in empowering emerging heritage professionals and researchers in Italy. The Lab supports emerging professionals in working long-term within the World Heritage field, a working area that is still unstructured and underdeveloped in Italy. This makes HeRe Lab a pioneering example in the country.
Emerging professionals and researchers are involved in relevant research projects and they are directly contributing to: drafting of Management Plans of World Heritage properties located in Tuscany; Heritage Impact Assessments; museums-related activities; international conferences and projects, as well as a wide range of activities directly related to heritage research and practice.
The involvement of emerging heritage professionals, one of the strengths of the model, is made possible by means of the creation of ad-hoc research stipendia (in Italian ‘borse di ricerca’) to financially support researchers in their activities. The application for the research grants is a very competitive process overseen by University professors, who guide the selection process depending on the professional figures required to tackle practical needs arising from the field.
The Laboratory is acknowledged as a good practice and a leading example of youth development, as the participation of emerging heritage professionals in research directly contributes to the sustainable development by fostering economic growth and encouraging youth empowerment.
Moreover, the inclusion and involvement of young professionals allows for the application of state-of-the-art research methodologies, also following innovative and intergenerational takes on heritage practices.
The Lab acts as a platform that allows emerging professionals to grow and exchange ideas and solutions with senior researchers and heritage professionals.