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About the Project
Epidemic Belfast is a public history and medical humanities project developed by Dr Ian Miller. Supported by AHRC Impact Acceleration Account funding, the project explored Belfast's medical past from the nineteenth century to the present day, uncovering how disease, illness, mental health conditions and public health crises have shaped the lives of people across the city.
Developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the project sought to deepen public understanding of how physical and mental illness have been experienced, managed and understood in Belfast over time. Through a combination of podcasts, articles, oral histories, archival research, photographs, museum collections and interactive digital resources, Epidemic Belfast examined topics including epidemic outbreaks, vaccination, tuberculosis, thalidomide, mental health, nutrition, public health provision, healthcare during the Troubles and the experiences of underrepresented communities.
The project highlighted the role of medical professionals, public authorities and local communities in responding to health challenges while also exploring the ethical, political and social issues that have influenced healthcare provision. By connecting historical experiences with contemporary debates around public health, medicine and wellbeing, Epidemic Belfast demonstrated the enduring relevance of medical history in understanding modern society.
Research Impact
Epidemic Belfast has significantly increased public engagement with Northern Ireland's medical heritage, making complex historical research accessible to broad and diverse audiences through an innovative digital platform, podcast series, online archive and multimedia storytelling resources.
The project created new opportunities for people to explore Belfast's medical history through oral histories, archival collections, museum objects, photographs and interviews. By sharing stories of individuals affected by illness, disability and public health crises, the project helped humanise medical history and encouraged audiences to reflect on contemporary issues through the lens of the past.
A key aspect of the project's impact was its engagement with communities whose experiences have often been overlooked in traditional historical narratives. Through interviews with survivors of events such as the thalidomide tragedy and other public health challenges, Epidemic Belfast preserved important personal testimonies while broadening understanding of the social and human consequences of disease and healthcare policy.
The project also contributed to public awareness and understanding of medical heritage during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. By drawing connections between historical and contemporary health challenges, it helped audiences better understand how societies respond to crises, the development of public health systems and the continuing importance of healthcare, wellbeing and medical research.
Historical Research at Ulster University
Epidemic Belfast demonstrates how historical research can inform contemporary discussions about health, medicine and society. By combining traditional research with podcasts, digital storytelling, oral histories and public engagement, the project has preserved important aspects of Northern Ireland's medical heritage while fostering greater public understanding of the historical experiences that continue to shape healthcare and wellbeing today.
