Beyond the University: Collaborating with the Thackray Medical Museum

Abstract:

In 2011-12, a collaborative research project, "Patently Innovative", was carried out between the Centre for History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Leeds and the Thackray Medical Museum. The project examined how academic research into the history of intellectual property and patenting might be used to inform museum displays in the history of science, technology and medicine. The activities of the project included audience consultation, staff training and the production of resources for museum visitors and educators.

In this presentation the speaker will detail his experiences of carrying out the project. In particular, he will look at how both the university and museum benefitted in both the short and long term, and how the project was managed and gave rise to unexpected avenues of research and public engagement activity.