Curious Devices and Mighty Machines: Exploring Science Museums - Hardcover

Samuel J. M. M. Alberti

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1789146399 ISBN 13: 9781789146394

Publisher: Reaktion Books, 2022

Synopsis

'A fabulous and enlightening adventure through the halls and storerooms of museums - a spirited celebration of human fascination and curiosity.' - Robin Ince, comedian, writer and broadcaster

'If I were to recommend only one book about recent trends in museums of science and technology, it would be this one.' - Helmuth Trischler, Deutsches Museum

Science museums have paradoxes at their core. They must be accessible and fun while representing increasingly complex science. They must be both historic and contemporary. Their exhibits attract millions, but most of their objects remain in deep storage, seldom seen. This book delves into these conflicts, revealing the secret lives of science curators; where science objects come from and who uses them; and, ultimately, what science museums are for. With an insider's eye, Samuel J.M.M. Alberti exposes the idiosyncratic past and intriguing current practice of these institutions, and sets out a map for their future.

About this title

About the Author

Samuel J.M.M. Alberti FRSE is Director of Collections at National Museums Scotland and an Honorary Professor at the University of Stirling. His other books include Morbid Curiosities: Medical Museums in Nineteenth-Century Britain (2011).

Edition details

• Publisher: Reaktion Books
• Publication date: 2022
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1789146399
• ISBN 13: 9781789146394
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 256