This episode features a panel discussion hosted online by the Association of British Science Writers in October 2021. The theme was the so-called ‘culture war’ and its effect on the UK's science and technology museums. The panelists discuss their personal experiences of government influence on museum independence and policy, and who should and shouldn’t sit on their boards. They take questions from the audience on the impact of the official ‘retain and explain’ policy, which expects publicly-funded institutions to keep statues and busts where they are.
The panellists were writer, historian of science, and ex-trustee of the Science Museum in London, Sarah Dry, and lecturer and researcher Aminul Hoque who was a trustee with the Royal Museums Greenwich until early 2021. The discussion was hosted by Chief Opinion Editor at Nature, Sara Abdulla.
Links mentioned in the talk:
Oliver Dowden's letter to museums
Original event page
Host: Sara Abdullah
Producer: Hester Cant
Artwork: Hana Ayoob
Music: George Ash