Robin Boast
Encyclopedia
Robin Boast is the Deputy Director and Curator for World Archaeology
at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of Cambridge
(MAA). He teaches for the Dept. of Archaeology and the Department of Geography University of Cambridge
on courses in museology, and the history and sociology of collecting. He has been a Visiting Professor
at the European University Institute
in Florence Italy, a Scientific Advisor for several EU projects, and was the Directored the Virtual Teaching Collection Project. Dr. Boast has worked in museums in the US and Britain for over 30 years, specializing in museum access, classification and documentation, especially around diverse knowledge communities. Through a program of historical, theoretical and practical inquiry, his research explores forms of informed, collaborative and critical access to museum spaces and collections. Dr. Boast is currently working with many indigenous communities around the world that seek to enable and re-centre the many dimensions of local knowledge
expertise within the academy – research informed by the critiques of the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge
, Post-colonial studies, Indigenous Studies and collaborative developments in e-Science
. Dr. Boast has worked for several years on an international research project which subjects the museum and the academy to the enthographic gaze of indigenous partners to de-centre the ownership and control of research of indigenous patrimony. His most recent work has been with source community museums and heritage organizations with Dr. Ramesh Srinivasan
and Mr. James Enote, primarily at the A:shiwi A:wan Museum & Heritage Center in Zuni
, New Mexico
(USA).
Information drawn in part from Dr. Boast's web page
at the MAA.
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
(MAA). He teaches for the Dept. of Archaeology and the Department of Geography University of Cambridge
Department of Geography University of Cambridge
The Department of Geography at the University of Cambridge has an international reputation as a leading centre of research and is consistently ranked as one of the best departments in the UK. The Department was ranked top by The Times Good University Guide in 2005...
on courses in museology, and the history and sociology of collecting. He has been a Visiting Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at the European University Institute
European University Institute
The European University Institute ' in Florence is an international postgraduate and post-doctoral teaching and research institute established by European Union member states to contribute to cultural and scientific development in the social sciences, in a European perspective...
in Florence Italy, a Scientific Advisor for several EU projects, and was the Directored the Virtual Teaching Collection Project. Dr. Boast has worked in museums in the US and Britain for over 30 years, specializing in museum access, classification and documentation, especially around diverse knowledge communities. Through a program of historical, theoretical and practical inquiry, his research explores forms of informed, collaborative and critical access to museum spaces and collections. Dr. Boast is currently working with many indigenous communities around the world that seek to enable and re-centre the many dimensions of local knowledge
Traditional knowledge
Traditional knowledge , indigenous knowledge , traditional environmental knowledge and local knowledge generally refer to the long-standing traditions and practices of certain regional, indigenous, or local communities. Traditional knowledge also encompasses the wisdom, knowledge, and teachings...
expertise within the academy – research informed by the critiques of the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge
Sociology of scientific knowledge
The sociology of scientific knowledge ' is the study of science as a social activity, especially dealing "with the social conditions and effects of science, and with the social structures and processes of scientific activity."...
, Post-colonial studies, Indigenous Studies and collaborative developments in e-Science
E-Science
E-Science is computationally intensive science that is carried out in highly distributed network environments, or science that uses immense data sets that require grid computing; the term sometimes includes technologies that enable distributed collaboration, such as the Access Grid...
. Dr. Boast has worked for several years on an international research project which subjects the museum and the academy to the enthographic gaze of indigenous partners to de-centre the ownership and control of research of indigenous patrimony. His most recent work has been with source community museums and heritage organizations with Dr. Ramesh Srinivasan
Ramesh Srinivasan
Ramesh Srinivasan is an Assistant Professor in Information Studies at the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies and at the University of California, Los Angeles. He was previously a lecturer at the University of California, San Diego in the ; and a Doctoral Research Fellow at...
and Mr. James Enote, primarily at the A:shiwi A:wan Museum & Heritage Center in Zuni
Zuni Pueblo, New Mexico
Zuni Pueblo is a census-designated place in McKinley County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 6,367 at the 2000 census...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
(USA).
Information drawn in part from Dr. Boast's web page
Web page
A web page or webpage is a document or information resource that is suitable for the World Wide Web and can be accessed through a web browser and displayed on a monitor or mobile device. This information is usually in HTML or XHTML format, and may provide navigation to other web pages via hypertext...
at the MAA.
Publications
- Boast, R. (2002) Computing Futures: A Vision of the Past. In B. Cunliffe, W. Davies and C. RenfrewColin Renfrew, Baron Renfrew of KaimsthornAndrew Colin Renfrew, Baron Renfrew of Kaimsthorn, Ph.D., FBA, FSA, HonFSAScot is a prominent British archaeologist and highly regarded academic, noted for his work on radiocarbon dating, the prehistory of languages, archaeogenetics, and the prevention of looting at archaeological sites...
(eds.), Archaeology: the widening debate. London, British AcademyBritish AcademyThe British Academy is the United Kingdom's national body for the humanities and the social sciences. Its purpose is to inspire, recognise and support excellence in the humanities and social sciences, throughout the UK and internationally, and to champion their role and value.It receives an annual...
, pp. 567–592. - Boast, R. (2002) Pots as Categories: British Beakers. In A. Woodward and J.D. Hill (eds.) Prehistoric Britain: The Ceramic Basis, Oxbow Books, Oxford, pp. 96–105.
- Boast, R, S. Guha and A. Herle (2001) Collecting Sights: the Photographic Collections of the Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology, 1850-1970. Cambridge: Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Cambridge University PressCambridge University PressCambridge University Press is the publishing business of the University of Cambridge. Granted letters patent by Henry VIII in 1534, it is the world's oldest publishing house, and the second largest university press in the world...
. - Boast, R. (2000) Speculum, Exemplar, Imago. In A. LoweAndrew LoweAndrew Lowe is a Canadian geophysicist and amateur astronomer. He has discovered a number of asteroids.With the discovery of the asteroid 2010 AX2 on January 7, 2010, he became one of only six individual observers worldwide with discoveries spanning five or more consecutive decades...
& S. Schaffer (eds.), N01SE: Universal Language, Pattern Recognition, Data Synaesthetics. Cambridge, Kettle's Yard. - Boast, R. (1997) A small company of actors: a critique of style. Journal of Material Culture, 2(2):173-198.
- Boast, R. (1997) Virtual Collections. In G. Denford (ed.), Representing Archaeology in Museums, Museum Archaeologist 22:94-100.
- Boast, R. (1995) The Virtual Teaching Collection: Multimedia access to museum collectionsCollection (museum)A museum is distinguished by a collection of often unique objects that forms the core of its activities for exhibitions, education, research, etc. This differentiates it from an archive or library, where the contents may be more paper-based, replaceable and less exhibition oriented...
. Proceedings of "Information: the Hidden Resource, The Seventh International Conference of the Museum Documentation Association, Edinburgh. Cambridge, Museum Documentation Association, pp. 323–334. - Boast, R. (1995) Fine Pots, Pure Pots, Beaker Pots. In I. Kinnes and G. Varndell (eds). 'Unbaked Urns of Rudely Shape' Essays on British and Irish Pottery for Ian Longworth, Oxford, Oxbow Monograph 55, pp. 69–80.
Joint Publications
- Srinivasan, Ramesh, Robin Boast, J. Furner and Katherine Becvar (2009) Digital museums and diverse cultural knowledges: Moving past the traditional catalog. The Information SocietyThe Information SocietyThe Information Society is a peer-reviewed academic journal on sociology, that was established in 1981. It is published five times per year by Routledge and covers topics related to information technologies and changes in society and culture...
. 25(3):. - Srinivasan, Ramesh, Robin Boast, Katherine Becvar and Jim Enote (2009) Diverse Knowledges and Contact Zones within the Digital Museum. Science, Technology, & Human Values, 34(3): .
- Srinivasan, Ramesh, Jim Enote, Katherine M. Becvar, and Robin Boast (2009) Critical and Reflective Uses of New MediaNew mediaNew media is a broad term in media studies that emerged in the latter part of the 20th century. For example, new media holds out a possibility of on-demand access to content any time, anywhere, on any digital device, as well as interactive user feedback, creative participation and community...
Technologies in Tribal Museums. Museum Management and Curatorship, 24(2): 169-189. - Srinivasan, R., R. Boast, K. M. Becvar and J. Furner (2009) Blobgects: Digital Museum Catalogs and Diverse User Communities. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and TechnologyAmerican Society for Information Science and TechnologyThe American Society for Information Science and Technology, sometimes abbreviated ASIS&T or ASIST, is a non-profit membership organization for information professionals...
(JASIST), 60(4): 666-678.