Collecting COVID research project

 

Project details

 

Project team:

Dr Tina Eyre, Curator

Michaela Garland, Archivist

 

Supported by The E P A Cephalosporin Fund

 

Start date: November 2021

 

The History of Science Museum and Bodleian Libraries are collaborating on the Collecting COVID Project to capture the University of Oxford’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This project will ensure that the stories and artefacts of the lives and world-leading research work undertaken by Oxford scientists are recorded and preserved to support future science education and research, and shared widely with public audiences both onsite and online.

 

 

The purpose of the project is to:

  • create a lasting record of The University of Oxford’s response to the pandemic for historians and members of the public
     
  • share this now and in the future.

We aim to identify staff that worked on a wide range of projects to support the pandemic effort, including vaccines, clinical trials and policy research.

We also wanted to reflect a variety of personal experiences, including:

  • long COVID
  • home schooling
  • clinical vulnerability
  • the stresses of working on a high-profile project like the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine.

 

We use research to identify people with interesting stories, documents or objects from the pandemic to share.

There are almost 15,000 staff at the University of Oxford all with unique experiences, both from their work or their personal lives.

Research to identify candidates is mainly conducted online using the University of Oxford website, national media news reporting and scientific journals.

A good understanding of the work performed — through reading of journals — helps with identification of relevant objects or documents for collection.

Once individuals have been identified, we collect a personal statement from them and work with them to select objects and documents that will help to illustrate their story.

Further research is carried out on the chosen objects to allow them to be catalogued, through discussion with the donor about their use and significance. Manufacturers' websites are also used to identify component materials.

Objects

We have now collected over 115 objects, which are visible in our online Collections database.

These are accompanied by context information from the donors describing their significance.

In addition, there are more than 25 longer narrative pieces written by key staff members about their roles and experiences during the pandemic.

Schools: learning sessions, talks and Study Days

We developed a learning session based on the project for primary school children called ‘What Does a Scientist Look Like?’.

This session compares scientists from the past with those from today and considers what skills scientists need.

So far, 285 children have benefited from this, including 195 from high pupil premium schools. We have also shared some of the findings of the project through talks and study days.

Study Days

  Vaccines: Past, Present ... Future? (Key Stage 4)

  Vaccines: Past, Present ... Future? (Key Stage 5)

Exhibitions

The stories and objects are being shared with the public through a series of exhibitions.

Blogs

Our collecting work has led to the writing of a number of blogs.

 

The project will have a range of long-term impacts on the university, the museum and the public.

These include:

  • Greater understanding of the pandemic for future generations, through the creation of a detailed historical record, enabling increased preparedness for future pandemics.
     
  • Raising the profile of Oxford University’s contribution to the pandemic effort among the public.
     
  • Modernising the image of the History of Science Museum in particular, and museums in general, by increasing public understanding of how and why museums collect and display contemporary objects.
     
  • Raising the profile of the History of Science museum among University of Oxford departmental staff and increasing their understanding of the role that we can play in engaging the public with their research. These ongoing relationships will facilitate the donation of key material relating to Oxford science in the future.
     
  • Raising aspiration, particularly for children attending learning sessions, and increased interest in science as a hobby and as a career. This is achieved through learning about what contemporary scientists are like, the role of science in our lives and the impact that it can have.
     
  • Increased recognition and understanding of the plight of vulnerable groups during the pandemic and the ways in which inequalities were exacerbated by the pandemic.