BSHS Exhibiting Excellence Prize 2024 Winners Announced
The Exhibiting Excellence Prize recognises excellence in public exhibitions that address topics in the history of science, history of technology or history of medicine. There are two categories, one for large exhibitions and one for small exhibitions. The prize is awarded by the BSHS Outreach and Engagement committee. There were very strong applicants for the 2024 prize, with entries from the UK, Europe, the US and India. The Committee is delighted to announce the following exhibitions as the winners.
Please scroll down for more information and links to these projects.
Large Exhibition Joint Winner: Measuring Difference, Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments (CHSI) – Harvard University
https://chsi.harvard.edu/measuring-difference
Measuring difference is an intriguing bilingual exhibit which succeeds in its aims to reinforce that Latin America is not simply an importer of scientific ideas, but rather it has a long history of scientific innovation. Organised into four sections: Measuring Space, Measuring Nature, Measuring Labor and Measuring Humans, the overall design successfully complements the subject matter and fosters an inclusive and cross-cultural approach to measurement. The team has delivered an attractive, accessible, and creatively engaging exhibition, encouraging audiences to be reflective about the role of measurements throughout history, reminding us that before European measures there were other ways of perceiving the world, and that measurements are neither objective nor neutral, but rather reflect the values, concerns, and prejudices of the society that employs (or imposes) them.
Contact: gsotolaveaga@fas.harvard.edu
Professor Gabriela Soto Laveaga
Large Exhibition Joint Winner: Breaking Ground, Oxford University Museum of Natural History
https://oumnh.ox.ac.uk/breaking-ground
Created around the fossils and writings of geologist William Buckland and the colourful illustrations by his wife, Mary Buckland (née Morland), Breaking Ground reveals a fascinating insight into the 19th century when the scientific community was rethinking its understanding of extinct groups of animals and plants, developing ideas that challenged the literal interpretations of the Bible. The exhibition focuses on the often-hidden hands involved in palaeontology, the networks of researchers, and the crucial roles of women, labourers and miners, in the UK and in colonised countries. The curators and designers have found imaginative ways to use the Victorian cases in the Museum to display the objects and contemporary responses including a new poem by the Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage.
Contact: ellena.grillo@oum.ox.ac.uk
Ellena Grillo
Small Exhibition Winner: Capturing the Stars: The Untold History of Women at Yerkes Observatory, University of Chicago Library
Capturing the Stars: The Untold History of Women at Yerkes Observatory was an exhibit which did a stellar job in revealing the invisible work and unknown lives of women who contributed to astronomy and astrophysics at Yerkes Observatory from 1900 to 1933, a time before we learned and confirmed that our galaxy was but one among many. The curatorial team, which consisted of students and professionals, skilfully overcame the challenges created by the exhibition space with the selection and presentation of the available material, letters, books, journals, photographs, astronomical glass plates, scientific tools, and interactive features. The design succeeded in its aims to convey not only how the work of women contributed to the advancement of astronomy at Yerkes, but also their lived experiences.
Contact: kpalmieri@uchicago.edu
Dr Kristine Palmieri