 |
 |
Apologies for cross postings >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 >[log in to unmask] >Tel: +44 (0)20 7942 5816 >Fax: +44 (0)20 7942 5841 >http://www.nhm.ac.uk/science > > > %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%