Diana Berzina (D.)

Diāna's research area is art and heritage crime. Currently her focus is on exploration of human-object relationships in spaces that mostly are not seen as criminogenic and/or often escape criminology theorisation attempts. These include such diverse topics as metal detecting in Russia, affective atmosphere of art fairs and the use of the digital space to contest illegality of grey activities.

• Affective atmospheres and sensory criminology
• Antiquities Trafficking
• Digital Communications and Inequalities Research
• White Collar Crime
• Technology and Digital Social Capital

Diāna comes from the multi-disciplinary background. Diāna received her PhD from Maastricht University in February 2025. In her PhD she explored what an object-attuned thinking and ideas around object agency, senses and ‘atmospheres’ can add to our understanding of certain types of crime and harms. 

Diāna also studied Archaeology and History at the University of Aberdeen. In 2018 Diāna graduated with MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice with Distinction from the University of Glasgow. Her research focused on the ways how the digital world and digital communications are used to legitimise art crime and antiquities trafficking. She was awarded The University of Glasgow’s Criminology Masters Prize and Harriet Martineau Prize for outstanding educational achievements.

In 2018 Diāna performed a data-gathering study on Russian-language metal detecting forums for the European Commission-funded Project EAC/06/2017 "Improving Knowledge on Illicit Trade in Cultural Goods in the EU". Diāna has also worked in Social and Criminal Justice sector in Scotland to gain first-hand insight into the field, and supplement theoretical knowledge with practical experience.