1. Mark Carnall Oxford University Museum of Natural History
Not real, not worth it?
Mark Carnall
Oxford University Museum of Natural History
Image: Wax model of Antendon bifida bifida © OUMNH

2. Image: http://www.museum.manchester.ac.uk/

3. On value
1995 First International Conference on the Value and Valuations of Natural Science Collections 2013 Crap in the Attic 2015 Who cares?
Image: Google Books

4. I remember once engaging in a protracted discussion with a Keeper of Natural History over the value of his geological collection…he was quite unable to accept the concept of a geological collection having any major value other than to science itself.
This was a little unfortunate because the collections concerned had no scientific value.
Quote from: Simon Timberlake, “A scientific/historical/educational heritage for whom: the value of geological collections in a small museum” in The value and valuation of natural science collections, eds. John R.Nudds and Charles W. Pettitt (Bath: Geological Society of London 1997), p. 127.

5. THIRD CLASS OBJECTS
Models, casts replicas, illustrations, interpretation, lantern slides, preparatory drawings, moulds, guide books, leaflets etc.
Image:

6. Exceptions

7. Potential Research Disciplines Materials and manufacture
Materials science, art history, history of science
Global distribution
History, geography
Tropes and memes of display
History of science, aesthetics, animal studies
Changing trends in pedagogy
Education studies, history
Networks of ideas
History of science, geography, information studies
Associated archives
History, information studies
Preservation biases
Conservation, history
Object studies
Biographies and dating
History, history of science, archival studies
Visualisation
Aesthetics, art history, information science

8. A knowledge of history and philosophy creates better researchers
These kinds of objects represent an effort, a drive and an ideology that can otherwise be lost
A knowledge of history and philosophy creates better researchers
Images: Brain Diaries at Oxford University Museum of Natural History

9. Benefits Novel research Object based studies Object based teaching
Direct impact to museums
Novel research
Improves use value
Diversify academic audience
Reattach primary data
Improves historical value
Image: Tiktaalik model by Robynm hioll commission for OUMNH

10. Source: http://universitymuseumsgroup

11. ££££ Hard to reach audience
Image:

12. Hard to Reach Audiences
100 hours project
For HE teaching use, wholly dependent on HE contact
Niche audience and hard to find
Reliant on individual contact (best ones move on)
We need to train them in museums and objects
Extra access hurdle for natural history objects
CDAs have targeted this work
We have to meet them half way (crisis in curation)

13. Building an audience
2009
2015
Image
2015 Traveller’s Tails
2017
2010
All Images © Grant Museum of Zoology
2017 The conversation

14. 2008- 2010 UCL Collections Review
Disposal Exhibition 2010
Low use, low value dinosaur models, microscope slides, lantern slides
Object Lessons
Lanterium
Unlocking the Vault
Image © Grant Museum of Zoology

15. We don’t want to be a Museum of a Museum?

16. Modern Parallels
Recreating the problem- 3D printing, digital models, exhibition interpretation. Where is anatomy in modern natural history museums? What caused the decline in creating models and casts? Collapse of industry? change in pedagogy? Shifting status in research?
Cephalodiscus nigrescens © OUMNH

17. Thank You!
Illustrations of Moina and Daphnia, illustrator unknown © OUMNH