James Wallis was awarded his doctorate in 2015. A partnership with the University of Exeter, James' research contextually analysed the museum’s presentation of First World War exhibited material from 1964 through to 2014 – enabling James to document the changing practices of commemoration over this fifty year timeframe. Over the course of 2012-2013, he spent a prolonged period conducting ethnographic research with IWM London’s First World War Gallery Content Team. This ended with the completion and opening of the First World War Galleries in July 2014. He has also completed extensive archival research, examining records, files, and photographs held within the Museum’s collections, as well as an interview programme with former members of IWM staff.