Abstract

The challenges facing the preservation of very recent scientific heritage are legion. The sheer amount of material which modern science produces, the size of it (often very very big, or very very small), the often blackboxed and highly perishable nature of equipment and specimens all pose problems in storage, conservation and display. Selection of what to preserve varies as a result of the many different aims of preservation, ranging from teaching in both science and history, presentation in museums, research and so on. This session brings together different participants involved in achieving these varied aims, including scientists, technicians, historians and museum professionals. Any viewpoint is welcome in brainstorming solutions to the challenges of preservation and display of the achievements of modern science.

Lydia Wilson is the postdoctoral fellow on the Scientific Heritage project in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science, a fellow at ARTIS Center for Conflict Studies, and co-editor of the Cambridge Literary Review. She has been a journalist, writing for publications from Time magazine to the Times Literary Supplement.