The Anthropocene in Natural History Museums: A Productive Lens of Engagement

Abstract

The Anthropocene is a proposed geological epoch, generally defined by the significant impacts of human activities on the Earth system. It provides a conceptual framework that traces historical causes, possible futures, and fundamental questions of human responsibility, values and purpose in a changing world. Here, we examine how natural history museums are engaging with the Anthropocene using two novel exhibits as a case study. First, we argue that the museum context, as a social space for learning through a range of embodied sensory experiences, is a valuable medium within which to experience the Anthropocene and communicate about it with a wide audience. Second, we observe that the Anthropocene has conceptual and practical implications for these museums. Thus, we suggest the Anthropocene is an especially productive lens of engagement for natural history museums, catalyzing both development in the science and representation, and also in public comprehension of global change.

Out of Their Shells: Digitisation of Endangered Diversity in Orphaned Collections Spurs Access and Discovery

“…The collections of Unionoida in Museo di Zoologia dell’Università di Bologna in Italy, and the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales in Spain (Albano et al., 2014; Bragado et al., 2014) increased the availability of 19th‐century freshwater mussel specimens for research. These collections of imperiled mussels are suitable for thematic public outreach on biodiversity loss in the Anthropocene and human relationality with nature (Oliveira et al., 2020). We have curated an exhibit on freshwater mussels, showing specimens, photography prints, illustrations and 3D prints of fragile specimens, and the use of mussels in button‐production.…”

Slowing Time in the Museum in a Period of Rapid Extinction

“…Museums have used their capacity to scale to engage with the concept of the Anthropocene (Oliveira et al 2020;Þórsson 2020) and to grapple with the complex predicament of climate change (Cameron and Neilson 2015;Newell et al 2017b;Thomas et al 2020). Rather than portraying climate change as a problem to 'solve', they can help people understand how to cope with uncertainty (Muir et al 2020).…”