Sarah May

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About

Dr. Sarah May is a cultural historian whose work explores the intersection of heritage, futurity, and the built environment. Her primary research focuses on how societies imagine and materialize the future, with a particular emphasis on the symbolic and physical legacies of space exploration. Dr. May’s major contribution lies in reframing outer space not merely as a scientific frontier, but as a powerful cultural artifact—a repository for utopian and dystopian visions that have shaped modern identity. Her most-cited work, "Future visions and the heritage of space" (2020), examines how mid-20th century space technology became a locus for societal dreams of order and progress, arguing that these "futurist symbols" now constitute a unique form of heritage that requires critical preservation. While still early in her career, her scholarship provides a vital bridge between heritage studies and the history of technology, offering a novel lens for understanding our collective aspirations. Dr. May’s work is essential reading for students and researchers interested in how the past’s imagined futures continue to influence our present.