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Scotland and Medicine is a partnership of museums, libraries and archives that showcase the outstanding and remarkable collections reflecting Scotland’s position at the forefront of modern medicine since the 18th Century.

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Our 2025 conference will explore the dual dimensions of medical collections: the tangible objects that form the foundation of museum practice; and the intangible - ethical, historical, and cultural narratives that give these objects meaning. 

 

The event will examine the practical and technical aspects of managing medical collections addressing the challenges of preserving, cataloguing, and displaying material culture while ensuring their integrity and accessibility. 

 

It will also delve into the moral, cultural, and societal implications of medical collections, exploring how museums navigate complex ethical landscapes and their relevance and importance to contemporary thinking. 

 

By addressing these two themes, the conference aims to foster a holistic understanding of medical collections, providing an opportunity to share research, experience and insights, and explore engagement with medical collections in new and innovative ways. 

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We welcome papers from a wide range of presenters on topics such as (but not limited to):

• Conservation, documentation, and care of medical collections

• Challenges around physical, intellectual, and ethical accessibility

• The representation of marginalised voices in medical collections and multiple narratives

• Issues of provenance, repatriation, and ownership 

• Curating stories of illness, healing, and human experience

• Ethical dilemmas in displaying human remains and sensitive materials

• The intangible heritage of medicine: oral histories, traditions, and memories

• Contemporary research into and use of medical collections

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Three types of submission are welcomed:

• Solo presentation (12 minutes + 4 minutes Q&A)

• Panel discussion (single topic involving three presenters offering different perspectives) (3 x 10 minutes presentation + 15 minutes open discussion)

• Breakout events, solo or partnerships (participatory activity for delegates) (30 minutes)

 

The language of the conference will be English. Speakers do not need to have based their research in Scotland. 

 

The conference is planned to be a hybrid event, although the physical attendance of presenters will be preferred. Some workshops or breakout sessions may not be virtual.

 

Contributions are welcomed from those working with medical collections in galleries, libraries, archives or museums as well as researchers and broader practitioners. 

 

Please send details on the submission form which includes space for a 300 word abstract and a short biography. 

Submission form: https://bit.ly/ScotlandMedicine2025cfp 

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