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2013/14 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

HPSC3401 Science, Objects and the Museum

20 creditsClass Size: 20

Module manager: Claire Jones
Email: c.l.jones@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2013/14

Pre-requisite qualifications

20 credits of level 2 HPSC, HIST, or ARTF modules, or equivalent by arrangement with the module leader.

Module replaces

HPSC3151 Methods & Themes in History of Science

This module is approved as an Elective

Module summary

How is science displayed in museums and how it has been displayed in the past? What forces have transformed the museum of STM from a cabinet of curiosity to a major medium of science communication? This module addresses these questions by surveying key developments in collecting and museums since 1700 and by looking at the theoretical and practical concepts that lie behind these developments. Throughout students will be helped to see the links between scientific development, conceptions of science and the growth of the museum as a medium.

Objectives

To understand the long-run history of museums of science, technology and medicine from the eighteenth century to the present.
To introduce students to some of the central questions of curatorship and museology, with particular reference to museums of HSTM.
To critically engage with and evaluate the collections and current displays of HSTM of the University of Leeds.
To develop initiative and creativity in presenting ideas and research via reports and an exhibition and thus, to respond to novel assessment methods.

Learning outcomes
Students will:

- Be able to summarize major trends in the history of museums of HSTM in the UK, US and Europe

- Be able to identify the relationship between the University’s HSTM collections, the history of the University and major trends in the academic field of museology

- Possess enhanced awareness of the academic study of museums and practical techniques relating to the key museum functions of collections care, exhibition development and communication with the public

- Be able to employ material culture as a historical research technique

- Be able to design and complete an exhibition project by collaborating with fellow students and academic staff

- Be able to identify general transferable skills that enhance employability (group working, research, communication, managerial skills)

Skills outcomes
- Analytical skills
- Communication skills
- Confidence
- Creative problem solving
- Critical thinking
- Flexibility
- Initiative
- Planning and organisation
- Leadership
- Time management
- Team working
- Use of knowledge

Syllabus

The module consists of three separate parts, with distinctive learning methods, as follows

Theoretical Perspectives Seminars (Weeks 1-4)
The course begins with four two hour seminars designed to introduce students to the methodological approaches, of collecting and museum displays, both past and present, through a discussion of recent scholarly literature.

Topics may include:
1. From the Cabinet to the Science Centre: Introduction to the Cultures of Collecting and Displaying Science (c18th to c21st, Bennett, MacDonald)
2. Introduction to Museological Thought I: Artefact Study and the Social Life of Things (Appadaurai, Foucault, Miller, Stocking, Geertz)
3. Introduction to Museological Thought II: Current Museum Meanings (Hooper-Greenhill, Pierce)
4. Objects and Museums for research in HSTM (Alberti, Arnold, Soderqvist, Forgan)

Evaluation of Museum Communication (Weeks 5-7)
During this part of the course, students will evaluate three museum displays. This may, for example, be in the form of:
- A natural history exhibit (at Leeds Museums)
- A medical instrument exhibit (at Thackray Museum)
- A science centre (at Eureka)

For each example, the students will engage in background reading, will spend approximately two hours experiencing the presentation and taking notes, and will engage in a two-hour seminar with the course leader, before writing up two 1,000 word report of two museums of their choice.

Exhibition Development (Weeks 8-11)
The final part of the course requires students to prepare their own exhibition, or another form of museum-based practice by agreement with the module leader. Students will be able to work in groups, exactly how many will depend on the size of the cohort (max. 10 per group, max. 2 groups). Work on this part of the course proceeds as follows:

- A two-hour seminar to discuss the practicalities of exhibition design and development (week 8.) to include:
- Collections care - balancing access and preservation, conservation/restoration vs authenticity ('historic dust')
- Exhibition themes, object research and methods of display
- Communicating to your audience
- A two-hour meeting for each group with the module leader to discuss exhibition ideas, view suitable objects and divide tasks (week 9).
- An hour seminar in which groups briefly present their project idea and receive evaluative comments from peers (if one group, self-directed text/exhibition development) (week 10).
- A further hour meeting for each group with the module leader to discuss exhibition text (week 10).
- A two-hour seminar installation session (week 11).

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Fieldwork	3	2.00	6.00
Group learning	3	2.00	6.00
Seminar	8	2.00	16.00
Tutorial	2	2.00	4.00
Private study hours			168.00
Total Contact hours			32.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Reading on core texts on history of museums and science (weeks 1-4): 20
Three 2 hour trips to museums (plus travel time, weeks 5 -7): 9
Developing two 1,000 word reports on museums visited: 35
Researching different kinds of historical artefacts in University collections: 15
Investigating other museums’ interpretations of artefacts: 10
Developing and implementing plans for exhibit, in lieu of private study: 54
Developing one 1,500 word report on experience of exhibition development: 25
Total = 168

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students will receive feedback on:
1. The two 1,000 word museum reports (c. Week 5) - written feedback
2. Exhibition development progress (c. Weeks 8 and 9) - verbal feedback
3. The exhibition and the 1,500 word report (after week 11) - written feedback

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Written Work	2 x 1,000 word Project Reports	50.00
Group Project	Exhibition or museum project	25.00
Reflective log	1 x 1,500 words	25.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Resit for the module will be by 100% unseen examination.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 15/04/2014

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