Dr Helen Southall
Senior Lecturer
Dr. Southall is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Computer and Engineering Sciences.
After graduating from the University of Keele with a degree in Physics and Music, and gaining an M.Sc. in Computation from the University of Manchester, Dr. Southall worked in the energy and insurance industries for 10 years. She joined the University of Chester as a lecturer in Computer Science in 1998, and gained her Ph.D. in 2015. She continues to pursue research interests in the digital humanities, including the application of virtual and augmented reality to history and heritage, and has a strong interest in bringing the results of academic research to a wider audience, for instance by helping to organise the first Storyhouse Climate event at Chester's Storyhouse arts venue in November 2022.
Outside of the university, Dr. Southall plays clarinet and saxophone in a variety of jazz and classical ensembles.
Dr. Southall's current teaching focuses on User Experience and User Interface Design. Over the last 25-plus years at the University of Chester, she has also taught Physics, Maths for Computer Science, Programming, Databases, Systems Analysis, Information Systems, Project Management, and Research Methods, as well as supervising dissertation students at undergraduate, Masters and Ph.D. level.
Dr. Southall's current research interests relate to the application of digital technology to public understanding of research, and especially applications of VR/AR technologies and UX best practice to history, archaeology and heritage, for example. in museums and exhibitions. She is also interested in promoting public understanding of science, especially the history of science, women in science and technology, and the science of climate change and sustainability.
Southall, H. V., Marmion, M., & Davies, A. (2019). Adapting Jake Knapp’s Design Sprint Approach for AR/VR Applications in Digital Heritage. In M. C. tom Diek & T. H. Jung (Eds.), Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality: The Power of AR and VR for Business (pp. 59 - 70): Springer Nature.
Southall, H. V., & Lupton, A. (2018). Just Imagine…? Imaginary Numbers in the Real World. Poster. University of Newcastle, UK. HEA STEM Conference 2018.
Southall, H. V., Beever, L., & Butcher, P. W. S. (2017). Traversing Social Networks in the Virtual Dance Hall: visualizing history in VR. Paper presented at Cyberworlds 2017, Chester.
Southall, H. V. (2017). Field Hollers, Foxtrots and Fire-watching: The real, imagined and virtual worlds of a wartime dance hall. Conference Presentation. ICTM World Conference (University of Limerick).
Southall, H. V. (2016). Dance Bands in Chester & North Wales, 1930 - 1970: Revealing a Hidden History. Conference Presentation. 'The Hidden Musicians Revisited' Conference (Open University)
Southall, H. V. (2014). Total War and its effects on the Live Music industry in Cheshire and North Wales. In C. Hart, G. Hodgson, & S. Roberts (Eds.), World War II & the media : A Collection of Original Essays: Dept. of Media, University of Chester.
Southall, H. V. (2014). Jazz on the border: jazz and dance bands in Chester and North Wales in the mid-twentieth century. Jazz Research Journal, 7(1).
Southall, H. V. (2012). Throwing Sheep in the Bandroom: Visualising a Social and Economic Network of Musicians in Cheshire and North Wales. Conference Presentation. 7th International Conference on the Arts in Society.
Southall, H. V. (2011). Dance Bands in Chester (1930 - 1970) - an evolving professional network. Conference Poster. Sites of Popular Music Heritage Symposium. (University of Liverpool),
Southall, H. V. (2008). Jazz in Chester - History of an Unexpected Community. Conference Presentation. 14th Leeds International Jazz Conference.
- B.Sc. (Keele)
- M.Sc. (Manchester)
- Ph.D. (Liverpool)