Aims & Themes
The key research aims of the Curating Crises project are:
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Explore colonial influences on the creation and circulation of knowledge.
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Explore the development of observational and instrumental networks in response to volcanic crises in the Caribbean, their dynamic interactions and their effectiveness.
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Work to share and celebrate the previously hidden roles of local and experiential knowledge in shaping today's scientific knowledge of the environment with communities in the Caribbean and the UK.
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Understand and share the lessons, including their influence on current practice in how and what 'data' are used and acknowledged.
Exploring the archives through this lens highlighted several themes:
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Geographies of Knowledge: The location of knowledge creation (and by whom) is not always reflected in where it is kept/used/attributed. Academic, political and instrumental networks have changed over time, and with them so has the flow of data and knowledge. Are those (people and places) about whom data is created seeing the benefits?
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Threatening Disaster: Political and social dynamics impact decision-making when a volcano is threatening disaster and unrest and eruption do not always go hand in hand. How do people/governments/scientists respond to this uncertainty? How have metropole-colony relationships shaped the way disasters are anticipated?
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Sensing and Witnessing: Observers of volcanic phenomena often report details detected through not just sight, but also sound, smell and even physical sensations.
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Networks: Instrumental, institutional and inter-personal networks shape the pathways of knowledge and data transfer. Who maintains instrumental networks and do those groups benefit from the data they generate? Who is excluded from these networks and why?
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Hidden Observers: Local observers have first-hand experience of the volcanic landscapes in which they live and work. Often, their accounts of unrest and eruptions contain details that would otherwise be missed. Colonial attitudes and practices meant some of this vital data was not taken seriously, or names and contributions of local observers were not officially acknowledged.
We have curated some Exhibits along these themes that make use of the archive materials from the database.
Use these as inspiration to explore the online archive and maybe uncover some stories of your own!