The need to think beyond the legal framework of social justice
Published: 22 July 2026
Francesca Whitton, History BA student at the University of Liverpool, celebrates the collaborative & interdisciplinary approach of the Nuclear Justice Project
The last six months working on the Merlin archive with the Centre have been incredible. As a History student, I’d learnt about social justice movements but hadn’t had the chance to actually participate in that kind of work before being asked to get involved with the project.
The Centre worked really hard to ensure that there were close relationships between the students and the Test Veteran community which the project was working to help, which meant we could see at first-hand how the research and cataloguing we were doing were having an impact. At events, there were always representatives from LABRATS in attendance who were not only eager to share their personal experiences of the nuclear testing program but also willing to listen and engage with us by answering questions, checking up on the project, and expressing just how grateful they were for the work being done. This regular contact was so important in ensuring that I never lost sight of the community at the heart of this project.
One thing I’ve really enjoyed over the last few months is the interactions I’ve had with students from other departments. You’d think that for a project hosted by the Law Department, the cohort of student contributors would be predominantly aspiring barristers and solicitors, but there have actually been numerous students from other disciplines. This cross-collaboration of History students, Politics students, International Relations students, and, of course, Law students, has meant that the project isn’t just about helping the Test Veteran community seek legal recognition for their situation.
There have been conversations about the historical legacies of the Merlin archive, discussions about power and scrutiny of public institutions like the Ministry of Defence, and questions on the intricacies of international diplomacy within the testing program. Some might think that this kind of project is only relevant in the legal world, but this experience has taught me the significance of inter-disciplinary collaboration and the need to think beyond the legal framework of social justice.
It was really great to be able to present at the launch event on one of the documents with potential importance to the wider legal case that I had found whilst cataloguing. Being able to share the research I had conducted on this document was fantastic and I really enjoyed this chance to show the significance of what I had been doing throughout the last few months.
My involvement with this project has taught me a lot. I’ve learnt so much about the British nuclear testing program and the difficult legacies it has brought about, but I’ve also learnt a great deal about the British legal system, both its successes and its failures, and the significance of the work that the Centre for People’s Justice coordinates. It was only really through getting involved with this project that I became aware of the work it does, but I’ve never been more sure of the need for the Centre, and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work on such an incredible and unique project.
Being a part of the group working to help the Test Veteran community achieve the justice and recognition they’ve worked hard for across more than five decades is something for which I will always be proud and an experience that I will never forget.
First published: 22 July 2026