Festschrift: how do we value artefacts in museum research?

Abstract

Museums of science and technology are well known for their efforts in collecting, preserving and exhibiting material expressions of techno-scientific cultures. Often, however, they have been struggling with their task in advancing historical knowledge production based on object-oriented research. This paper explores the eminent role of Robert Bud, longstanding curator and sometime head of research at the Science Museum in London and dedicated scholar in academic research and teaching, to find new ways to value artefacts in museum research. This reflection looks back on more than a quarter century of personal encounters in order to trace, first his stimulating efforts to develop innovative research questions that interrogate the epistemic quality of artefacts and, second, his enduring impact in fostering international research collaborations and networks.

Keywords

• robert bud
• artefacts
• museum of science and technology
• public technology
• collaborate research
• science museum
• deutsches museum
• tensions of europe