Compiled by Jan Freedman, Curator of Natural History, Plymouth Museums Galleries Archives.
It’s that time again when we look at some great events and conferences, writing, and jobs, chosen just for you!
What Should I Read?
Dodo’s in Leeds. Not alive, obviously, but still extremely fascinating. A lovely post by Clare Brown at Leeds Museums and Galleries. Harry Higginson: Distributing dodos in the 1860s.
Plants. Pressed. Old. Difficult to look after. Here’s a nice post by Imogen Crarey: Five lessons for life from working on the Horniman’s Historical Herbarium.
How do you print a dinosaur to make it look lifelike and realistic? Let Alex Peaker tell you: Printing a dinosaur.
Want to discover some incredible women in science? Of course you do! Scroll through excellent, engaging and accessible blog posts all about female archaeologists and palaeontologists on the TrowelBlazers website.
What Should I Do?
Perhaps the biggest event of the year, the annual NatSCA conference, is now taking bookings!
Dead Interesting: Secrets of Collections Success
Wednesday 1st – Friday 3rd May 2019
National Museum of Ireland, Dublin – Collins Barracks site
The #NatSCA2019 conference aims to unlock the secrets of collections success by sharing how our members and colleagues in the wider sector have used collections to benefit their organisations, communities and the wider world.
We will host three themed sessions, with a focus on:
Collections: Reveal your collections care, research and access secrets.
Engagement: What are your engagement success stories and how did you make them happen?
Museums and Tech: How has technology helped you unlock, understand and unleash your collections?
Have a look at the Care and Conservation of Insect Collections on Friday 22nd March 2019 at Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
This one day course will cover all you need to know about looking after entomology collections, from modern collections management techniques and to practical remedial conservation skills. Starting with the basics, the morning session will focus on collections assessment and storage. The afternoon will involve participants in a hands-on practical session covering the various materials and methods used to conserve specimens. Further information from the day will be made available via an electronic resource pack.
Trading Nature is the summer meeting and AGM of the Society for the History of Natural History, organised with the Geological Curators Group. This two day international meeting held in York will examine the role of agents, dealers and commercial enterprises in the history of natural history. The King’s Manor, University of York, Tuesday 4th – Wednesday 5th June 2019. More details at the SHNH website.
And here’s a little blog post aimed towards conference audiences to help the speaker have more fun. It’s something little that you can do: the beauty of a smile.
Where Should I Go?
There’s a wonderful touring exhibition, organised by TrowelBlazers. Raising Horizons is a photographic exhibition using real female scientists today in the character of female scientists of the past. It’s a gorgeous exhibition, and you can add to the list of venues – and help promote the amazing women in science, both past and present!
What Can I Apply for?
There are a few new jobs out there this month – have a look, there might be something different for your career?
Curator (Collections – Science) UCL Culture
Part-time, £35,328 – £42,701
Lead Interactive Gallery Curator, Science Museum Group (York)
Full Time, £30,000 – £34,000 per annum + benefits
Junior Website Content Editor (x2), The British Museum
Full time, Temporary (less than 13 months), £22,875 per annum
Archivist, Science Museum Group (York)
Full Time, £28,000 – £31,500 per annum + benefits
Before You Go…
If you have visited an exhibition/museum, have something to say about a current topic, or perhaps you want to tell us what you’ve been working on, please drop Jen an email at blog@natsca.org. Thanks!
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