With pleasure, the Science History Institute, along with the American Philosophical Society and the Mütter Museum at The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, announces that the next and 31st meeting of ARTEFACTS will be held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19-21 October 2026.
Today, many museums aligned with the history of science (very broadly defined) are being called upon to help build, restore, or grow “trust in science” among their audiences. As historians of science and museum professionals, the organizers share the concerns motivating such calls, yet also recognize that “trust in science” is itself an object of historical inquiry.
Such tensions within the history of science are, of course, not new. Since museums and historians often must reconcile such tensions in public-facing projects (and recognizing that we serve many different “publics,” across and within institutions), we have the opportunity to explore how scientific objects can be mobilized to bring audiences into a more critical history of science. Objects are on one hand epistemologically and ontologically flexible; their meanings and identities come from those who study and interpret them. At the same time, for the public, objects are material, “real,” and carry an aura of authority. In the American Alliance of Museums’ Spring 2021 report on Museums and Trust, respondents identified the fact that “Museums present real/original/authentic objects” as the second-most cited measure of their trustworthiness. (For further analysis, see the essay “History Museums and Trust” from the American Association for State and Local History.)
The theme of the 2026 meeting is TRUST AND OBJECTS. We encourage proposals that explore how museums and academic institutions use material culture to build “trust in the history of science” in multiple ways. How do we use objects to negotiate the different meanings of “science” for audiences? In what ways can objects be deployed programmatically and interpretively to raise critical and generative questions about science, and its relationships to politics, culture, and economy? How can the seemingly inert nature of material culture be used to cultivate values of care, empathy, and understanding?
In keeping with the theme, we especially encourage proposals from individuals working on or with public-facing projects using material culture. This could include museum professionals, as well as historians who study museums, public displays, or interpretation within the history of science.
Examples might include, but are not limited to:
- Case studies of museum exhibitions or interpretive projects that illustrate the role of museums and/or material culture in exploring trust in science
- Discussions about how to negotiate among internal and external stakeholders in defining “science,” the goals of the history of science, or how to connect with different audiences
- Challenges posed by interpreting material culture unfamiliar to visitors, or “unappealing” due to its visual character or technical complexity
- Historical perspectives on the interpretation of material culture in the history of science
- Discussions of objects that challenge definitions of science and define the edges of an institution’s collecting scope
Please remember that the focus of presentations should be on artefacts.
ARTEFACTS will once again offer two tracks for submissions: (1) works to be considered for publication (a pre-circulated paper and a longer presentation based on the paper) and (2) works-in-progress (shorter presentations without a paper). Abstracts for track 1 should be 500-1000 words; abstracts for track 2 should be 200-300 words. They should be accompanied by a 75-word author biography and sent to artefacts@sciencehistory.org by April 30. We aim to notify accepted participants by May 31.
Registration will open formally when the program is announced in June, but in the meantime informal queries should be directed to artefacts@sciencehistory.org.
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URL https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/sites/default/files/2026-03/ArtefactsCallforPapers.pdf
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