Postdoctoral research opportunity
The Science Museum, London, is looking for an experienced historian to work
for
approximately 18 months on its Making the Modern World gallery project.
Making the Modern World, opening to the public in June 2000, will be a major
gallery, presenting the history of technology from 1750 to 2000. Adopting a
chronological structure, it is divided into four types of display: The
central space will
contain `icons' of science, technology and medicine; highly significant
objects,
mainly from the Museum's own collections, including Stephenson's Rocket, Marc
Brunel's block making machines and the first brain scanner. The other types of
display will provide different types of historical context to the icons: A
sequence of
nine 'theme displays' will present historical subjects, such as the second
industrial
revolution of power electricity and chemical industry, or `Defiant
modernism' (the
technology of the Cold War). On the other side, a sequence of five
vignettes of
technology in everyday life will provide a point of comparison of ordinary
manufactured items with the extraordinary and unique icons. Finally, a
sequence of
models will show the world of technology in miniature.
To complete the project team, the Museum requires a historian acquainted
with the
recent literature on the economic and social history of technology in the
period
1750-1900. Duties will include writing the script for icons, as well as for
one or
more of the detailed contextual displays, including the selection of
appropriate
objects; detailed research in order to produce historical narratives to engage
Science Museum visitors; panel and label text composition; and contribution
to the
publications associated with the gallery project. The succesful candidate
will be
expected to work as an active member of the project team, contributing
ideas and
expertise in all areas of the gallery. A proven ability to write in an
engaging and
accesible style for consumption by the general public is essential.
This is a good opportunity for a historian with an interest in material
culture to gain
experience on a major project at the UK's premier Museum of science,
technology
and medicine.
Expressions of interest should be made by 18th December to Tim Boon,
Deputy Project Director, Making the Modern World Gallery
Science Museum, London SW7 2DD, UK
fax: +44 (0)171 938 8050; [log in to unmask]
T M Boon,
Deputy Project Director, Making the Modern World Gallery
Curator of Public Health
Science Museum, London SW7 2DD, UK
tel: +44 (0)171 938 8069; fax: +44 (0)171 938 8050; [log in to unmask]
http://www.nmsi.ac.uk/mmw/index.html
http://www.nmsi.ac.uk/collections/themes/public_health.html
See our recent exhibition: http://www.nmsi.ac.uk/on-line/germlabs/germlabs.htm
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