Dr Morgan’s research is on multispecies making, which takes an ecological and global perspective to tackle and highlight contemporary issues. It rests on the premise that all animals make and asks important questions about how our human making activities intersect with that of other animals. The aim is to create a more equitable and flourishing environment. The Leverhulme Prize extends this research by thinking about museum objects and their conservation, considering the way that creatures access the spaces where these objects are stored, from nest building to creating thready cocoons.
Dr Morgan says: “From the perspective of a carpet beetle, art is delicious. Glues, textiles, papers and even cables of internet data services are tempting food and building materials for many invertebrates, small mammals and microorganisms. Most often studied and viewed as pests to be guarded against or destroyed, the animals that eat through the history of human creativity could instead be seen as part of a cyclical process of making and remaking.”
Colleagues in SDCA have been celebrating Dr Morgan’s success. Associate Dean for Research and Innovation Professor Claire Warden commented: “This award illustrates El’s established and growing reputation in the interdisciplinary field of multispecies studies, celebrating her as an artist and maker as well as an innovative scholar.”