Human Remains Research Project
Evaluating visitor responses to the display of human remains at the Museum
About the project
This research project focuses on evaluating visitor responses to the display of human remains in the Chau Chak Wing Museum. Using online surveys completed by Museum visitors upon their departure, we aim to gain a greater understanding of how visitors engage, react and respond to the curation and display of human remains in physical and 3D visual formats within our exhibition contexts. The initial survey took place from July to November 2022.
What we will do with the results
The data gathered from this research project will help to inform future exhibitions and will help set new guidelines on the display, care, treatment and interpretation of all human remains in the Museum's collection.
We will also publish the survey data in leading peer-reviewed publications.
Research team
This is a collaborative project comprising:
Internal investigators
PI: Dr Melanie Pitkin, Senior Curator, Nicholson Collection
Co-I: Candace Richards, Assistant Curator, Nicholson Collection
Sabrina Baron, Volunteer, Nicholson Collection
External investigators
Professor Ronika Power, Macquarie University
Jacinta Carruthers, Macquarie University
Dr Rafie Cecilia, University College London
This project has been approved by the University of Sydney's Human Research Ethics Committee. Project No. 2022/379
Header image: The Mummy Room at the Chau Chak Wing Museum
