Scotland and Medicine Conference 2023
Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
Friday 29th September 2023
10am-4.30pm
In September 2023, the Scotland & Medicine partnership organised a conference aimed at heritage professionals working with medical collections. Presentations centred on some of the most pressing topics facing Scottish medical collections across museums, libraries and archives. Members of Scotland & Medicine and invited speakers presented case studies on topics such as sensitive collections, hazardous materials, silenced voices and outreach. Laurie Britton Newell, Senior Curator at the Wellcome Collection was invited to give a keynote address which was recorded and made available to view below.
The conference was free to attend and funded by Scotland and Medicine.
Conference Programme
10:00-10:30 – Registration and Coffee
10:30 – 10:35 – Welcome address (Matthew Jarron, Scotland & Medicine)
10:35 – 11:20 – Keynote
Chair: Matthew Jarron
‘In Plain Sight': Inclusive Exhibitions - Laurie Britton Newell (Wellcome)
11:25 – 12:10 – Safe Spaces
Chair: Lisa Collinson
Safe Spaces for Researchers – Violent Crime (Police archives) - Cheryl McGeachan and Moira Rankin (University of Glasgow)
Inclusive Language and LHSA’s Speaking Out Project - Louise Neilson (Lothian Health Services Archive)
The Brittle Bone Society: Disability and Archives - Alasdair Bachell (University of Dundee Archive Service)
12:10 – 13:10 - Lunch
13:10 – 14:05 – Silenced Voices
Chair: Charlotte Holmes
Incorporating Silent Voices into Displays - Sophie Goggins (National Museum of Scotland)
“A lady amongst the students” – Elizabeth Garrett Anderson at St Andrews - Sarah Rodriguez (Libraries and Museums, University of St Andrews)
The Hunterian Anatomy Museum Crania Collection – Identification and Repatriation - Mike Rutherford (University of Glasgow)
Silenced Voices: The Anatomical Museum and the Edinburgh Sudanese Community - Malcolm MacCallum (University of Edinburgh)
14:10 – 14:45 – Contemporary Collecting
Chair: TBC
De-accessioning and Disposal - Nicky Reeves and Abigayle Brown (University of Glasgow)
A Transvaginal Mesh – Contemporary collecting of human remains - Louise Wilkie (Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh)
14:45 – 15:00 - Break
15:00 – 16:00 – Promotion, Outreach, and Audiences
Chair: Rosie Al-Mulla
Website analytics - Alex Rive (Scotland & Medicine)
Remote & Rural Remedies: Going Outside the Museum - Daisy Cunynghame (Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh)
Using NHS Lanarkshire Archives for family history research - Wiebke McGhee (North Lanarkshire Archives)
Create and Connect: Wellbeing with Collections - Eilidh Lawrence (University of St Andrews)
Working with Medical Students - Matthew Jarron (University of Dundee Museum Collections)
16:05 – 16:25 – Sensitive and Hazardous Materials
Chair: TBC
Working with Medicines - Catherine Walker (Royal Pharmaceutical Society) - pre-recorded
Moving Pharmaceutical Objects - Jenny Pape (Aberdeen Archives, Gallery and Museums)
16:25 – 16:30 – Closing Remarks