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UAL Research Online

Conservation Education for Reflective Practice and Public Advocacy: Student Response to Natural History Collections

Graves, Eve (2004) Conservation Education for Reflective Practice and Public Advocacy: Student Response to Natural History Collections. NatSCA (Natural Science Collections Association) News, 3. ISSN 17413974

Type of Research: Article
Creators: Graves, Eve
Description:

This paper was written in the context of the world wide rethinking of displays of mounted specimens taking place in museums of natural history. It explores a variety of different ways in which such material, among many other types of associated material, is understood, used and valued. I go on to suggest that the debate should be wider than the current focus on the scientific and science education purposes of such displays.

The research is based on a small series of action research projects undertaken with postgraduate conservation students. Students chose material displayed in museums as starting points for their own explorations of meaning and in doing so confronted different entrenched attitudes and approaches. I then analysed and problematised the issues raised for the conservation discipline. As with my other related research in this area there is also the intention that the constructive approach that students are encouraged to take will deepen learning and encourage commitment to the discipline.

Additional Information (Publicly available):

Eve Graves

Research Interests

Museology and Conservation, Human Values, Meaning and Material Culture, Intangible Heritage, Intercultural Communication, Pedagogy

Profile

Eve Graves studied philosophy at the University of York between 1967 - 1972, followed by a further two years of doctoral research at the University of Essex (1972-74). Her academic career spans over 30 years, during which she has held numerous teaching positions, ranging from Guest Lecturer (University of Essex 1974; Goldsmiths College, 1988; Byam Shaw School of Art, 1989; The Temenos Academy at The Prince of Wales Institute, 1997) to Course Director (BA History of Drawing & Printmaking, CCA, 1990-95), Theory Studies Co-ordinator (Historical and Cultural Studies for conservation courses, CCA, 1998 - 00) and Disability Representative (CCA, 1998 - present). She has recently completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Learning and Teaching in Art, Design and Communication (CLTAD, 2002) and in 2004, she further qualified with a PDAF Award, Supervising Postgraduate Research: Supervising research degrees for professionals in art, design and communication.

Current Research

My research brings together conservation and material culture studies. I am interested in the ways in which human values become embedded within cultural landscapes and materials and the ways in which these values are revealed and preserved. Working within conservation I am interested in the ways in which these values can be explored and communicated to inform conservation education and professional decision making and so benefit the public and the profession.

My research operates in three principal areas:

1.Text-based

Using conservation/museology/heritage publications (and job descriptions) to explore changing attitudes (overt and implied) to tangible and intangible heritage – to assess implications for conservation theory and the teaching of ethics.

2. Pedagogic Action Research with conservation students

A series of learning projects to explore student ideas about meanings and values and their preservation and communication.

3.MATAR - Materials and the Arts Research Centre

The compilation of a data base for materials/tools/processes that are seen as possessing cultural/spiritual values and thus impinge on conservation decision making."

Your affiliations with UAL: Colleges > Camberwell College of Arts
Date: 1 August 2004
Date Deposited: 07 Dec 2009 12:25
Last Modified: 15 Sep 2010 12:40
Item ID: 918
URI: https://ualresearchonline.arts.ac.uk/id/eprint/918

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