Emma van Heeswijk is a PhD candidate with the ERC-funded ARMIES project, where she explores firearms communities in Germany through ethnographic research. Her academic journey is rooted in a deep interest in the social dynamics of security and identity.
Emma holds a bachelor's degree in Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology, with a specialization in Criminology. She furthered her expertise through an international Master's program across Glasgow, Dublin, and Prague, focusing on themes such as security, (de-)radicalization, and peacebuilding.
Her previous research has examined the intersections of national security, intercultural exchange, and collective identity, as well as the role of coercion in peacebuilding initiatives. Emma has gained hands-on experience as a research assistant, contributing to the development of innovative methods for evaluating distancing efforts with radicalized individuals. She has also shared her knowledge as a teacher in the Anthropology department.