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Science
in Museums
Articles
Behind
the Scenes
Pann
Pann Chung
WHENEVER we visit a museum or a science and technology centre, we are often dazzled and awed by the displays we see. But, have we ever thought about the amount of work or the people involved before many of the exhibits make their way into public view?
Karen Coote, Manager of the Conservation Section at the National Maritime Museum in Sydney’s Darling Harbour, works in the Conservation Laboratory behind the main museum with her desk besieged by hundreds of artefacts from maritime history. Twenty-three years of public and private experience in the field of matter conservation, a Bachelor of Arts degree studying social history, and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree from London, are just some of Karen’s credentials. Not only is Karen responsible for assigning work to the lab technicians, she must also have a comprehensive understanding of the complexities involved in the preservation of maritime artefacts that are possibly hundreds of years old.
Karen’s goal in spending endless hours sifting through the remains of shipwrecks is not simply to provide the Australian public and international visitors with entertaining displays of ancient ships and their contents. Ultimately, the primary goal is the same as any good museum – the education of the public. “Our aim is to educate people about shipwrecks and their conservation; it is a part of our social history.”
As a tip to all aspiring scientists, Karen advises students to be clear about choosing which path to follow. For a future in a field such as hers, Karen stresses the importance of studying chemistry and physics as well as social history. “A field such as this is a career path, just like optometry and dentistry. You have to know it is what you want to pursue.”
Jack Mcburney is just one example of how the public can get involved at the National Maritime Museum. For the past twelve years, this retiree has been providing assistance with conservation work in the capacity of a volunteer. At the moment, he is patiently cleaning the one hundred year-old glass negatives that are in the museum’s collection. He uses little more than the basics -- ethanol, distilled water, and cotton swabs (So who said basic chemistry was useless?). This is certainly no small task; the negatives are delicate and can be easily damaged. There are many more than the one hundred or so in the box before him – in fact, around three thousand more.
So the next
time you visit a museum, think about all the people who are responsible
for the wonders you see. If not for their efforts, there would be little
more than an empty room to stare at.
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