Past ❤ Play wins Ammodo Science Award 2024
Research group Past ❤ Play is one of the four winners of the Ammodo Science Award for groundbreaking research 2024. The core team consists of Dr Csilla Ariese, Prof Sybille Lammes, Dr Angus Mol and Dr Aris Politopoulos. Together they will receive a sum of 800,000 euros. The research group can spend this amount at its own discretion on a (potentially) groundbreaking scientific research project.
Past 
Play explores the rich history of the phenomenon of ‘play’ in various societies over the centuries. In particular, the team investigates how the love of play can lead to a renewed interest in and appreciation for public heritage.
Archaeologist and member of the research group Aris Politopoulos on winning the award: 'Winning the Ammodo science award for groundbreaking research was as much unexpected as it is exciting! We have been working as a group for many years on the intersection of past and play. The Past Play Project will continue on this trajectory of combining play and playful methods for re-loving heritage but taking a more global perspective. We want to express our gratitude to Ammodo for the award and of course to Leiden University for the continuous support and their commitment to take play seriously!'
All culture is rooted in play
All culture is rooted in play, according to Dutch cultural historian Johan Huizinga (1872-1945). His acclaimed work argues that play is an integral element of culture and society. Yet little attention has been paid in academia to play as an essential cultural practice. At the same time, the heritage studies research field has long struggled with the question of why there is so little appreciation of some public heritage sites, such as culturally important buildings and places, in modern societies.
The Past ❤ Play team innovatively brings together these seemingly disconnected issues by conceptualising play as cultural heritage and vice versa. According to the researchers, play is a powerful tool to promote as well as explore the appreciation of cultural heritage. The team found that when local communities are actively engaged with the heritage in their neighbourhood through play, a stronger connection to these places often emerges.