ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú

This month’s Student Spotlight features Carlos Ausejo, a full-time PhD candidate in History.

The prospect of studying for a PhD seemed impossible because of the cost and the fact that most scholarship programmes did not align with my interests. I had nearly given up looking, but then I found out about the perfect opportunity at the at the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú. It was amazing to discover that the scholarship focused on the port city of Callao, which is only 10kms from my home in Lima - the Peruvian capital.

I applied for the scholarship, was accepted and I am now thrilled to be pursuing my dream of studying maritime history in ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú as part of the project called Sail to Steam, Carbon to Green: Empowering Port Communities in the Global South.

The scholarship particularly appealed to me because of the emphasis on learning from the past to address today’s challenges associated with climate change and sustainability. This will enable me to maximise the impact of my work, while still building on my recent work as the Head of the General Directorate of Archaeological Heritage in Peru. It is also a logical progression from my earlier studies: my undergraduate degree in Archaeology from the Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru (PUCP), and my Master’s studies in Maritime Archaeology from University College London. I am immensely grateful to for funding my scholarship and the wider Sail to Steam project.

Learning from the past to improve the maritime sector’s green transition

My research will investigate how Callao was reshaped in the nineteenth century when maritime trade came to be powered by steam, rather than sail. Despite Callao's historical significance as a strategically important Peruvian port on the Pacific coast research about the port remains limited, primarily focusing on naval history and economic aspects. My research aims to reconstruct the impacts on daily life in Callao after steam's introduction, examining economic, social, and infrastructural changes to understand the challenges of this transition. By analysing historical impacts, my research seeks to inform mitigation strategies for contemporary port communities facing the shift to green energy, a planned but similarly transformative change. The research also considers the evolving urban relationship between Callao and Lima, highlighting the importance of understanding historical port heritage in the context of modern urban development. I look forward to undertaking my field work in Callao in the second year of my studies. I am particularly fortunate to be working under the guidance of my supervisors, Dr Melanie Bassett, Dr Rudolph Ng and Associate Professor Karl Bell from the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú, and at PUCP. Their expertise and the stimulating intellectual environment at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú and PUCP are most welcome.

Living and studying in ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú

The sea is an essential part of my life. My home in Lima is just a 15-minute walk away from the coast. Since arriving in ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú, that feeling of being at home has remained because I can still get to the sea in 15 minutes. As I am also a diver and maritime archaeologist, I am excited to be living in a city renowned for its maritime heritage and archaeology, particularly the extraordinary story of the Mary Rose. I hope to learn more about the region and British culture in the coming years. Since arriving in the UK in February, I have been able to meet people from all over the world, make new friends, and experience different cultures, which is one of the main advantages of studying here. I am looking forward to my studies and university life over the next three years.