CAUSE 2025: Decolonizing the Academic Museum: Cascading Impacts of Colonization on Science Museums (DAC)
About
Current decolonization efforts in Europe, including the UK, are breaking new ground by looking at how original collecting practices impacted the cultures and landscapes. In this multi-semester experience students will look at university science collections and data collection practices in field science, current decolonization efforts, and how university museums can move forward. Students will analyze those processes to formulate their own views and solutions to break these cycles in their future work.
Course Structure
The CAUSE 2025 study abroad program is now offering remote asynchronous sections for EMS students at all campuses for the Spring 25 and Fall 25 semesters!
- EMSC 470W - Spring 2025 semester: In person and Remote Asynchronous Sections available (3 credits): Students will look at decolonization efforts around the world with a focus on science collections including how original collecting practices impacted the cultures and landscapes. Using an analytical approach, students will learn the background behind biased collecting practices in field science, current decolonization practices, and how university museums are moving forward in the 21st century. This class is writing intensive.
- EMSC 497 - Summer 2025 travel (.25 credit tethered course): Two weeks of international travel, May 11- 24. This class will explore decolonizing science collection efforts at a variety of campuses across England including UCL, Oxford, Cambridge, Manchester and others.
- EMSC 470W - Fall 2025 semester: In person and Remote Asynchronous Sections available (3 credits): This course will facilitate student deliverables based on materials learned during the spring and summer terms. Each student will produce a poster for CUE as well as a conference presentation (paper & PowerPoint that address decolonial practices in university research and provide avenues to break these cycles in their future work. Students will also collaboratively develop a whitepaper suggesting guidelines for decolonizing the EMS Museum earth materials collections.
Travel component
- May 11-24, 2025: Students must have a valid passport by May 1, 2025
Eligibility
- Preference will be given to students who will be third year students during the spring 2025 semester and fourth year students during the fall 2025 semester.
- Please reach out to Chris Widga (cxw5766@psu.edu) and Patti Finkle (pwf5120@psu.edu) for more eligibility requirements.
Cost
Program fee after EMS grant is applied is $1,000 + airfare. There will also be a $200 cost for summer semester. Note: there are additional University grants through Penn State Global and the SEN to help cover costs.
- Spring: regular tuition, additional $1000 course fee, this is the time to buy airfare as well ($800 to 1500 to Heathrow airport)
- Summer: $200 tethered course tuition, students pay for 2 dinners, souvenirs, and food on air travel days.
- Fall: regular tuition
Instructors
- Chris Widga (cxw5766@psu.edu)
- Patti Finkle (pwf5120@psu.edu)
Interested?
Please complete and submit the form below by Wednesday, December 4, 2024.