Project-lead Professor Katarzyna Marciniak, streamed in from Warsaw via Skype.

Dr Liz Hale, senior lecturer in English and Writing and A/Prof Marguerite Johnson, a classics expert from University of Newcastle, presented the UNE wing of Our Mythical Childhood, a multi-nation project supported by 1.49 million Euros in funding from the European Research Council.

Dr Hale and her team also launched the Antipodean Odyssey website that will be used to report on findings from the UNE wing of the project. The website will feature short reflective pieces on classical antiquity written by team members and other interested participants.  

Next month Dr Hale will travel to Warsaw for the launch of a major project conference. The conference theme “Our Mythical Hope in Children’s and Young Adults’ Culture… The (In)efficacy of Ancient Myths in Overcoming the Hardships of Life” speaks directly to the role of ancient myths during crucial, often very difficult, experiences young people face as the grow into adulthood. The conference will also see the launch of the Our Mythical Childhood Survey – a core task of the project.

The graphic gives an idea of the scale of collaboration.