Dr Nicky Reeves
- Curator of Scientific and Medical History Collections (Hunterian Museum & Art Gallery)
telephone:
(0141) 330 2131
email:
Nicky.Reeves@glasgow.ac.uk
pronouns:
He/him/his
The Hunterian, Level 2, Kelvin Hall, 1445 Argyle Street, G3 8AW
Biography
Nicky joined The Hunterian in 2014 to take up a newly-created position with responsibility for the large collection of historic scientific and medical instruments which document the history of research and teaching at the University of Glasgow. Prior to joining The Hunterian Nicky held teaching and research positions in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Cambridge.
Nicky's principal focus is on documenting the collection, including identifying, photographing and appraising previously un-catalogued material. Working with Collections Management team colleagues, the packing and movement of material from remote and inaccessible stores to The Hunterian's new Collections Study Centre at Kelvin Hall continues to be a major project. Whilst much of the 19th century (and the small number of older) instruments material is comparatively well catalogued, The Hunterian's holdings of 20th-century material, particularly from the second half of that century, require a lot of work.
The question of what to collect, and what to not collect, is critical to Nicky's ongoing engagement with this material: is it possible to collect, document and display the material culture of contemporary scientific practice in the same way that earlier scientific practice has been treated, or are new forms of collection required? What silences and absences are there in the material records held and displayed in museums? How can they be remedied?
Research interests
Collections
Scientific and Medical History Collections
Teaching
Nicky actively contributes to teaching across the University, including supervising PhD students, and convening a 20-credit course entitled Curating the Sciences on the Museum Studies MSc run by Information Studies.
