My name is Dr Garrett E Eriksen. I am a historian, political scientist, lecturer, conservationist, photographer, film maker, cook, writer, researcher, kaiju hunter, heavy metal enthusiast, geek and your host to all things historical! (Also, I clearly have way too many interests!)

I mostly work with war veterans on their war-time experiences and also do work on lesser known wars and battles as I feel they also need exposure and study… (not every war was World War II – I’m looking at you History Channel.) You can learn more about my studies here.

My interests range from African History & Politics, to Military History, Cold War Studies, Geopolitics, Environmental/Conservation History, Climate Change, Film Studies, Popular Culture and tons more! I explore these topics and more on my podcast here.

I want this blog to be a space where I can have fun and share interesting thoughts, but also write more detailed articles than what my Podcasts or Facebook posts allow for, and where I can deal with more difficult subjects in a more complex manner. You can see some of my films and publications here and conferences and talks here.

I hope to share some of my passion and findings with you and to tell stories long into the night, and I’m looking forward to hearing your stories in return.

Feel free to follow me at: https://www.facebook.com/CitizenHistorian/

Notable Recent Achievements

2019

Speaker and Presenter at Congolese Civil Society “Minerals, Military Weapons and Holocaust” Conference at the Iziko South African Museum

Speaker at South African Historical Society 27th Biennial Conference at Rhodes University

Keynote Speaker and Panelist Judge at PeaceJam/Tore’s Foundation Kavli Cup Debate Competition Finals

Speaker and Presenter at Tshisimani Centre for Activist Education “Minerals, weapons, and violence: the story of the DRC” Conference

Bursary recipient for pre-doctoral studies from The Ernst & Ethel Eriksen Trust

2018

Speaker and Presenter at Congolese Civil Society “Natural Resources, Hidden Holocaust” Conference at the Iziko South African Museum

Bursary recipient for pre-doctoral studies from The Ernst & Ethel Eriksen Trust

2017

Speaker and Presenter at Congolese Civil Society “Nuclear Weapons and Uranium Security” Conference at the Iziko South African Museum

2016

Speaker and Presenter at “The Politics of Armed Struggle in southern Africa” History Workshop and Conference at the University of the Witswatersrand

Project Leader for installation of The Palaeontological Scientific Trust (PAST) “All From One” Exhibit at the Iziko South African Museum

2015

Assisted in post-production material research, community engagement, and academic support for feature film My Father’s War, directed by Craig Gardner; Lion Mountain Films (2016)

2012

Created first ever video documentary dissertation with written component for an for MSc degree as part of a pilot course to determine if multimedia dissertations are feasible at Masters level at University of Edinburgh Centre for African Studies (CAS). Pilot was a success and future students now have this option available for their dissertations.

Successfully held, ran and managed marketing for University of Edinburgh CAS African Forum Pan-African Conference of 5 May 2012