Discomfort in the National Capital: How the university sector can drive developments in collections and research

Universities have a rich history of collecting nationally and internationally significant cultural and scientific materials from around the world. These collections allow for complex, multidisciplinary research, teaching and engagement with community, and also present a tangible connection to the University's research legacy. Collections were, however, often built in ways that disenfranchised and exploited Communities. Around the world, Universities and Communities are reckoning with the impacts of colonialism and structural racism and advocating for the respectful return of Ancestors and cultural heritage.

This Panel, featuring expert voices from the University of Glasgow Hunterian Museum and Australian National University, will consider what it means to engage and consult with community through the lens of decolonisation: how we can facilitate uncomfortable discussions in a culturally safe way, and how can Universities and the GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums) sector elevate and present collections in a way that promotes truth-telling and self-determination? The panel will consider the steps and structural changes required to embed this work within university organisations.