Key research themes
1. How are ethnographic museums navigating postcolonial challenges and community engagement to redefine their roles and representations?
This research theme investigates the transformation of ethnographic museums from colonial repositories toward institutions that critically engage with their colonial legacies and actively involve source and local communities. It addresses issues of representation, repatriation, decolonization, and the negotiation of identity and authority in museum practices. Understanding these dynamics matters as it influences museum relevance, ethical stewardship, and the inclusivity of cultural narratives in pluralistic societies.
2. What is the impact of digital culture and technology on the accessibility, mediation, and audience engagement of ethnographic museums?
This theme explores how digitization and digital culture reshape museum experiences, expanding audience reach beyond physical spaces and transforming exhibition strategies. It is important because digital technologies offer new potentials and challenges for ethnographic museums in presenting collections, fostering participation, and negotiating authenticity and authority in a digitally mediated environment.
3. How is museology evolving as an interdisciplinary academic discipline to theoretically and practically inform the development of ethnographic museums?
This theme addresses the theoretical foundations, teaching, and professionalization of museology (museum studies) as a meta-discipline that integrates historical, ethical, and practical perspectives to shape the future of ethnographic museums. It is critical for producing museum professionals competent in critical thinking, theory, and practice to navigate complex cultural, social, and political challenges.