Thursday, November 7, 2024

14:35 - 15:00

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Details

Sara Mittica, University College London, London, United Kingdom. UK Registrars Group, London, United Kingdom Evolving societal attitudes towards museum collecting practices have necessitated museum professionals to re-evaluatethe way we manage and look after Human Remains collections. It is no longer justifiable to collect for collection’s sake andregistrars play a crucial role in caring for these collections, while ensuring adherence to ethical standards and legalrequirements. Collections must be interpreted, displayed, and used according to today’s ethical standards. With this inmind, the author aims to showcase how Human Remains are managed and used within the context of a teaching andresearch collection at University College London (UCL). The focus will be placed on issues of consent, particularly within the context of the Human Tissue Act (2004), whichprovides the key legal framework for managing collections involving human remains in the UK. The presentation will alsodelve into the practical considerations essential for registrars and collections specialists to manage these collectionsresponsibly and ethically. Additionally, it will highlight the importance of ensuring consent for viewers encountering humanremains and UCL Museums approach on achieving this. Furthermore, drawing from examples in the UCL's Science and Pathology collections, the author will discuss proceduralframeworks surrounding ancient DNA sampling and scientific destructive analysis, underscoring their pivotal role injustifying the retention of human remains collections at UCL, reinforcing the overarching theme of ethical and responsiblemanagement of human remains collections.