The Natural History Museum, London is hosting a conference this April,
Nature's Treasurehouses? which will discuss the contributions natural
history collections make to society. One of the key themes is how natural
history science education is carried out in museums and herbaria and what is
the way forward.
We have arranged some high profile speakers for the event, but discussion
between speakers and with the audience is an important part of the
conference. We are therefore extremely keen for educational specialists, and
museum professionals to attend this agenda-setting conference.
THE FUTURE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUMS: WILL IT BE
REAL?
Do natural history museums with their displayed collections still have a
fundamental role in natural science education? Will the emergence of
electronic imaging via integrated network systems eliminate much of the need
for physical museum collections in the teaching of natural history? The
contrary view is that there may be an increasing need for people to test
scientific hypotheses for themselves against real objects from the natural
world in a world in light of challenging new scientific advances. The
education debate will focus on some of the theories of how we learn in light
of the use of both collections of real objects and virtual electronic
systems. There will be a chance to discuss how the revolution in IT may both
challenge and invigorate natural science learning in a museum environment.
The Education Speakers are;
* Professor John Durant
Assistant Director, The Science Museum, London
* Dr Mary Alexander
Director of the Museum Program, Maryland Historical Trust.
* Dr Chris Fowler
Manager BT Education Research Programme and Director of Future Learning
Centre, Institute of Education, University of London.
* Sir Harry Kroto. FRS
Professor of Chemistry, University of Sussex.
* Mr Roy Hawkey. Head of Education
The Natural History Museum, London
This session forms part of our conference Nature's Treasurehouses?, speakers
in other session include Professor Richard Dawkins and Sir Robert May . The
conference is part of a wider festival at The Natural History Museum,
including an innovative collaboration with the Serpentine gallery and a BBC
Natural History Film Festival.
Details of Nature's Treasurehouses? including booking information can be
found at the conference website;
www.nhm.ac.uk/conference
or contact me at the address below.
Do let me know if I can be of further assistance.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Antony Weir
What will be the role of natural history collections in the future?
NATURE'S TREASUREHOUSES? 4 - 7 April 2000
Visit the conference website at http://www.nhm.ac.uk/conference/
The Natural History Museum,
London SW7 5BD UK
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Tel: +44 (0)20 7942 5816
Fax: +44 (0)20 7942 5841
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/science
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