Ainsley Hawthorn, Ph.D.

Ainsley Hawthorn is a cultural historian and a specialist in sensory studies.

After earning a Ph.D. in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from Yale University, Hawthorn held fellowships at Distant Worlds (University of Munich) and the Advanced Seminar in the Humanities (Venice International University).

Her areas of expertise include the human senses, ancient Mesopotamian literature and culture, Middle Eastern dance, word origins, the history of writing, and the role of religion in modern society.

Hawthorn is currently completing The Other Five Senses, a non-fiction book that uses personal stories to introduce readers to the lesser-known senses of balance, temperature, pain, body position, and the visceral organs (represented by The Margret McBride Literary Agency). She has written articles and op-eds on cultural history, the human senses, and religion in society for CBC, The Globe and Mail, the National Post, and the Newfoundland Quarterly.