Museums and the Climate Crisis shows the ways in which museums are responding, and can respond in the future, to the global climate crisis. The inter-related crises of climate, pollution and extinction affect everyone around the globe. Museums have a unique role in tackling these crises because they are amongst the few institutions that take a long-term perspective, beyond the short-term cycles of politics and economics, and their scholarship and independence mean that they remain trusted by the public. Providing insights and international case studies from a range of museum and gallery professionals, academics and consultants, this book explores how museums can use this unique perspective to engage the public as active citizens, and how they are exemplars of good practice in areas such as emissions reduction and encouraging biodiversity. It shows how museums can combat climate exhaustion by drawing on behavioural psychology about positive motivation, and how to develop exhibitions, events and activities that are calls to active citizenship. A parallel strand of themes focuses on use of renewables, environmental controls and standards, travel (including virtual couriering), waste management including recycling, plastic reduction, composting, reducing pollution and increasing biodiversity within museums. Museums and the Climate Crisis will be important reading to those studying in the fields of Museum Studies, Heritage Studies and Conservation. Taking a practical approach, it will also be beneficial to museum, gallery and heritage professionals who are grappling with the challenges of the climate crisis.

Museums and the Climate Crisis shows the ways in which museums are responding, and can respond in the future, to the global climate crisis. The inter-related crises of climate, pollution and extinction affect everyone around the globe. Museums have a unique role in tackling these crises because they are amongst the few institutions that take a long-term perspective, beyond the short-term cycles of politics and economics, and their scholarship and independence mean that they remain trusted by the public. Providing insights and international case studies from a range of museum and gallery professionals, academics and consultants, this book explores how museums can use this unique perspective to engage the public as active citizens, and how they are exemplars of good practice in areas such as emissions reduction and encouraging biodiversity. It shows how museums can combat climate exhaustion by drawing on behavioural psychology about positive motivation, and how to develop exhibitions, events and activities that are calls to active citizenship. A parallel strand of themes focuses on use of renewables, environmental controls and standards, travel (including virtual couriering), waste management including recycling, plastic reduction, composting, reducing pollution and increasing biodiversity within museums. Museums and the Climate Crisis will be important reading to those studying in the fields of Museum Studies, Heritage Studies and Conservation. Taking a practical approach, it will also be beneficial to museum, gallery and heritage professionals who are grappling with the challenges of the climate crisis.

Scrutinizing, in detail, the relationship between archaeology, heritage and the public, this much-needed volume explores public interest and participation in archaeology as a subject worthy of academic attention in its own right.

Examining case studies from throughout the world; from North America, Britain, Egypt and Brazil to East Africa, China and beyond, Nick Merriman focuses on two key areas: communication and interpretation, and stakeholders.

Constant reports of new discoveries, protests over the destruction of sites and debates over the return of artefacts such as the Elgin marbles or indigenous remains testify to an increasing public interest in archaeology.

For students and scholars of this archaeology, and of its relationship with the public, this will prove essential reading.

Constant reports of new discoveries, protests over the destruction of sites and debates over the return of artefacts such as the Elgin marbles or indigenous remains testify to an increasing public interest in archaeology.

This much-needed volume focuses on this public interest and participation as a subject worthy of academic attention in its own right, and scrutinises in detail the relationship between archaeology, heritage and the public. Case studies are taken from throughout the world, from North America, Britain, Egypt and Brazil to East Africa, China and beyond, and focus on two key areas: communication and interpretation, and stakeholders.

The book is the result of a nationwide survey in the UK that measured public use of and attitudes to the past, archaeology and collecting. The author reviews this research in the light of contemporary theory on ideology and representation and goes on to develop a convincing explanation for the failure of museums and similar institutions to connect with the majority of the public. Merriman marshals the empirical and theoretical work to make a powerful case for a new approach to attract the under served populations; one which encourages a view of the museum as a service helping its public to see, understand and engage with its own personal, local and multi-faceted past.

The book is the result of a nationwide survey in the UK that measured public use of and attitudes to the past, archaeology and collecting. The author reviews this research in the light of contemporary theory on ideology and representation and goes on to develop a convincing explanation for the failure of museums and similar institutions to connect with the majority of the public. Merriman marshals the empirical and theoretical work to make a powerful case for a new approach to attract the under served populations; one which encourages a view of the museum as a service helping its public to see, understand and engage with its own personal, local and multi-faceted past.