RT Journal Article
T1 Collecting twenty-first century science: an analysis of public and professional perceptions
A1 Esme Mahoney-Phillips
YR 2023
VO 
IS Spring 2023
K1 acquisition
K1 audience engagement
K1 collecting strategies
K1 contemporary collecting
K1 perception analysis
K1 post-museum
K1 professional perspective
K1 public perception
K1 qualitative data
K1 quantitative data
K1 Rijksmuseum Boerhaave
K1 Science Museum
AB This article covers the key findings from a set of qualitative and quantitative research investigating the relationship between public and professional perceptions of contemporary collecting. Areas of congruence and disconnect were studied using a survey, distributed to public and professional respondents, and a series of interviews with curatorial and directorial staff at two case study science museums: the Science Museum in London and the Rijksmuseum Boerhaave in Leiden. This research demonstrated that while there were certain areas of disconnect and hesitancy, both groups supported the acquisition of twenty-first century material in science, technology and medical museums, acknowledging the importance of such collecting strategies. The data also highlights the importance of contemporary material for audience engagement and development of science capital, enabling visitors to deepen their understanding of the past, present and future through discussions of current science, technology and medicine and its role within society.
NO The acronym STM is taken from a 2018 paper by Alberti et al which discusses contemporary collecting in science, technology and medical museums. 
NO A stratified random sample of 2,009 members of the British public participated in this study.
NO MAXQDA is a qualitative data analysis (QDA) software which enabled visualisation of the data.
NO Q20 was a question for professional respondents: ‘List, in your opinion, up to three benefits of 21st Century object acquisition.’
NO Interview on 11 November 2019 was with a former Assistant Curator at the Science Museum in London. They had left their role a month or so before the interview, so their perspective was still very current.
NO Interview 1 on 19 November 2019 was with the Curator of Medical Collections at the Rijksmuseum Boerhaave.
NO Q38 was a question for public respondents: ‘Please list, in your opinion, up to three concerns you have over the inclusion of 21st Century material in museums. [if you are unsure, feel free to leave the question unanswered].’
NO Interview 2 on 19 November 2019 was with an Assistant Curator of Medicine at the Science Museum, London. 
NO Q21 was a question for professional respondents: ‘List, in your opinion, up to three disadvantages/difficulties with the acquisition of 21st Century objects.’
NO Interview 2 on 6 November 2019 was with the Director of the Rijksmuseum Boerhaave.
NO Science literacy is an element of science capital, explained below, and refers specifically to ‘knowledge and understanding about science and how science works. This also includes their confidence in feeling that they know about science.’ (Archer et al, 2016, p 3). 
NO Science capital, as defined by the Science Museum Group, is a concept which recognises the importance of ‘what you know about STEM, how you think about it, what you do and who you know in shaping your attitude and relationship with science and maths’ (Science Museum Group, no date). See Archer et al, 2015 and Archer et al, 2016 for further information.
NO The term ‘combat’ is a direct quote from the survey questions. However, it reflects a more outdated concept of science communication and so its use within this paper has been limited.
NO Q37 was a question for public respondents: ‘Please list, in your opinion, up to three benefits of including 21st Century materials in museums. [If you are unsure, feel free to leave the question unanswered].’
PB The Science Museum Group
SN 2054-5770
LA eng
DO 10.15180/231902
UL https://journal.sciencemuseum.ac.uk/article/collecting-twenty-first-century-science-an-analysis-of-public-and-professional-perceptions/
WT Science Museum Group Journal
OL 30