Unpacking the influence of the Eurovision Song Contest on the architecture of our cities
Dr Liz Walder from the School of Architecture, Construction & Environment at UWTSD will deliver her latest research at Eurovisions 2024: the conference which brings together fans, professionals, and researchers of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC). The conference takes place in Malmo, Sweden on May 7 and 8.
Dr Walder’s paper, 鈥淚n every corner of the world鈥: unpacking the influence of the Eurovision Song Contest on the architecture of our cities, will feature in the Science Slam of Eurovisions.
It is a new piece of research in which Liz is opening the door on her two great loves: architecture (and design), and Eurovision. The title is a lyric taken from Love Shine a Light by Katrina & the Waves, winner of Eurovision Song Contest for the UK in 1997.
The conference highlights papers about academic and non-academic thinking about the ESC, as well as contributing to the strengthening of the Eurovision studies field. A range of subjects are covered each year with a Eurovision link.
This year, Dr Walder is the only British representative in the Science Slam, so is flying the flag for the UK and Architecture at Eurovisions 2024.
Dr Walder said: 鈥淭here hasn鈥檛 been any research into the relationship between architecture and Eurovision, so the topic is ripe for investigation. I鈥檝e loved watching Eurovision over the years and now I have a chance to share my love and knowledge of the built environment with other people across the world, both at Eurovision and beyond. Who knows what I will find out from my research!鈥
Dr Walder MA FRSA MCIPR is also Communications Lead, Impact and Engagement at the University鈥檚 Construction Wales Innovation Centre. Her PhD, about the Royal Gold Medal of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), was published in 2019.
She is published on the gender imbalance of recipients of major architectural awards and prizes (Going for Gold, 2018) and her work on the Women Architects of Wales (from the 1960s onwards) will be included in the Bloomsbury Global Encyclopedia of Women in Architecture, 1960 鈥 2015, forthcoming in 2024, as a 2-volume (hard copy) and digital work.
Dr Walder is also a graduate of the University鈥檚 Lampeter campus, with her first degree being a BA (Hons) in Ancient History & Archaeology.
To find out more about Dr Walder鈥檚 research (and to watch others in the Science Slam of Eurovisions 2024) you can watch the videos here: and vote for your favourite here:
Further Information
Rebecca Davies
Executive Press and Media Relations Officer
Corporate Communications and PR
Email: rebecca.davies@uwtsd.ac.uk
Phone: 07384 467071