Dragen Lab

Dragen Lab Interdisciplinary digital humanities research lab located on the University of Waterloo and St. Jerome's University campus.

This page contains updates on the excavations and research being supported through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) of Canada’s Partnership Development Grant (PDG) with Queen’s University, University of Waterloo, St. Jerome’s University, and Bader International Study Centre (BISC).

We are excited to announce Dr. Yvette Sanderson as the keynote speaker for 2026 CAMELOT Conference, happening September ...
05/07/2026

We are excited to announce Dr. Yvette Sanderson as the keynote speaker for 2026 CAMELOT Conference, happening September 26th, 2026!

Making the journey all the way from Sheffield University located in Yorkshire England, Dr. Yvette Sanderson is an experimental archaeologist who plans to discuss the use of experimental archaeology, historic recreations, and how this helps to piece together histories, stories, and truths!

In addition Dr. Yvette Sanderson has made appearances on the show Digging for Britain where she has exemplified her amazing use of experimental archaeology that have intrigued audiences all over the UK!

Come and hear her amazing insights by attending the CAMELOT Conference this year!

Meet John Loudfoot, PhD Candidate exploring the environmental and social history of medieval England’s mining industry (...
04/09/2026

Meet John Loudfoot, PhD Candidate exploring the environmental and social history of medieval England’s mining industry (1100-1450) 👋

John brings an interdisciplinary lens to the DRAGEN Lab, blending environmental, social, legal, economic, and political histories. Since joining the DRAGEN Lab and Environments of Change Project back in 2022, he’s supported the development and operations of projects like Digitizing the Pyke Coin Collection, which resides at the University of Waterloo’s Dana Porter Library, as well as co-leading non-credited Paleography workshops at no cost to the campus community.

Over the years, John has provided support in various areas, always offering a helping hand in every area of the DRAGEN Lab. He’s been in the field, engaged in Archaeological excavations at Streethouse, UK, and will return this July to support project collaborator Dr. Stephen Sherlock on a new and exciting project.

Good Morrow Fellow travellers! On this pilgrimage towards CAMELOT, We ask of Thee “What Medieval Ruler are you?”Comment ...
03/27/2026

Good Morrow Fellow travellers! On this pilgrimage towards CAMELOT, We ask of Thee “What Medieval Ruler are you?”

Comment Below!
Image credits/sources:
*Frederick Barbarossa (Public Domain)
*Taizu, better known as Genghis Khan (Public Domain)
*Mansa Musa (Public Domain)
*King Sigismund of Hungary (Public Domain)
*William II of England (Public Domain)
*Charlemagne (Public Domain)
*Henry V of England (Public Domain)
*”Portrait of Saladin” © The Trustees of the British Museum. CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
*”San Vitale (Ravenna) - Mosaic of Iustinianus I” By Petar Milošević - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40035957

PhD Candidate Murad Alizada-Hamidlinski has a passion for storytelling, which has led to particularly interesting resear...
03/23/2026

PhD Candidate Murad Alizada-Hamidlinski has a passion for storytelling, which has led to particularly interesting research topics throughout his Masters and PhD journeys with University of Waterloo Faculty of Arts History Program.

As the lab’s second modern historian to be featured, Murad joined us back in 2021 and has had a significant presence within the DRAGEN team ever since. As the Graduate Liaison for the lab’s only Undergraduate Caucus, he is a fantastic leader who provides support to our network, while contributing to the growth of our programming.

ResearchFellow

The DRAGEN Lab’s engagement network connects the Tri-University community, bringing together students from the Universit...
03/20/2026

The DRAGEN Lab’s engagement network connects the Tri-University community, bringing together students from the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, and the University of Guelph.

Undergraduate Research Fellow Ethan Gowland joins us from , where he is completing his Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in History and Medieval Studies, with a minor in Archaeology. His research interests span 15th-century military history, medieval social history, and U.S. foreign policy from the 20th century onward.

Ethan, as well as some of his colleagues from the DRAGEN Lab Undergraduate Caucus will be showcasing his spectacular tabletop display and recreation of a medieval village at the Open House on Saturday, March 28th, on the campus.

Be sure to stop by, explore his work, and learn more about SJU’s Medieval Studies program!

There are many key players who make the DRAGEN Lab’s operations as accessible and seamless as possible. PhD Candidate Gi...
03/19/2026

There are many key players who make the DRAGEN Lab’s operations as accessible and seamless as possible. PhD Candidate Gillian Wagenaar embodies the diversity that makes the DRAGEN Lab so dynamic. As a war historian, she offers a perspective that expands beyond our original medieval focus, showcasing how we think and collaborate across disciplines. She’s also the creative mind behind our graphic design—if you’ve admired our logo, graphic drawings, or DRAGEN Lab swag, you’ve seen her work in action.

Passionate about accessibility, she brings history to life through art, digital tools, and storytelling. She shapes how our work is seen and shared!


HUZZAH! Noble Traveler what Knight is thee on this pilgrimage towards CAMELOT!Comment Below! *All Images sourced from Ca...
03/13/2026

HUZZAH! Noble Traveler what Knight is thee on this pilgrimage towards CAMELOT!
Comment Below! 
*All Images sourced from Canva*

Over the years, the DRAGEN Lab has supported, and been supported by many dedicated students on the St. Jerome’s Campus. ...
03/11/2026

Over the years, the DRAGEN Lab has supported, and been supported by many dedicated students on the St. Jerome’s Campus. One student who has stood by our initiatives since the very early stages has been PhD Candidate Jordan Tardif.

Jordan was involved with the DRAGEN Lab during his Undergraduate experience, and worked to support the previous-version of our Undergraduate Caucus through event planning and ex*****on, as well as fundraising. We were pleased to welcome him back with open arms for his PhD in Arts, History back in Fall 2024.

Since his return, Jordan has played a pivotal role in the development and ex*****on of our Medieval Latin and Paleography workshops, as well as maintaining the non-circulating collection held in the DRAGEN Lab.

St. Michael’s College at the University of Toronto will host Mappa Mundi: Mapping the Mediaeval World, an in-person symp...
03/10/2026

St. Michael’s College at the University of Toronto will host Mappa Mundi: Mapping the Mediaeval World, an in-person symposium exploring medieval cartography and how people in the Middle Ages visualized and interpreted their world. The event will take place Saturday, April 11, 2026.

Hosted by Dr. Jacqueline Murray, the Medieval Symposium examines mapping from two key angles: how medieval societies conceptualized the globe — including spherical representations of Europe, Asia and Africa, as well as mysterious regions beyond the known world — and how modern use maps to deepen understanding of medieval life and space. Attendees will also consider maps depicting pilgrimage routes, trade networks and even mythical creatures once thought to inhabit the margins of the world.

03/09/2026

Hav you registered for our Historical Minecraft Speed Building Challenge?

Join our Associate Director, Shannon, by preparing for the event in advance! You won’t want to miss this.

Due to the event landing on March break, we encourage individuals 13+ or with children to register. If you have any questions about registration or the event itself, please send us a DM!

‼️ Registration is required! Link in bio! ‼️

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290 Westmount Road N
Waterloo, ON
N2L3G5

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