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Invitation to the evening lecture of the international workshop "Decolonising academic disciplines and collections"

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Invitation to the evening lecture of the international workshop

Reimagining Collecting & Collections using decolonial practice in Natural History Museums

by Miranda Lowe
Principal curator at the Natural History Museum London

While decolonisation has been the topic of much discussion in museums over recent years,
what does it mean in the context of natural history? Using both UK-based and international
case studies, the practice of decolonising natural science collections will be examined and
related knowledge that requires tracing how specimens and objects were collected, acquired
and moved worldwide. Through examples, acknowledgement will be given to the
collaboration of indigenous and enslaved communities in the collecting process and their
contribution to global scientific knowledge. These narratives are commonly absent from the
interpretation of natural history collections particularly in relation to colonial histories,
which will be explored. The misrepresentation of the past is problematic because it
alienates indigenous and black audiences. Acknowledging difficult pasts is an important
first step in creating more inclusive, representative and holistic interpretations across the
natural history arena.

Welcome note by city councillor Kirsten Dinnebier and brief introduction to the workshop by
Tanja Pommerening.

Kindly sponsored by the Ursula-Kuhlmann-Fond.

Free and open to the public. No registration needed.