MVO launches new collaborative research based Project “Curating Crises “
The “Curating Crises” project is led by Professor Jenni Barclay (University of East Anglia, UK), in collaboration with University of Oxford (UK), The Royal Society (UK) and The National Archives (UK), The Seismic Research Center (UWI-SRC) and the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO). It is funded through the UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) ‘Hidden Histories’ research grant and would run through to June July 2023.
The “Curating Crises” research project explores the impacts of colonialism (or post-colonialism governance) on the creation and sharing of the scientific knowledge in response to volcanic crises in the Eastern Caribbean. The project focuses on several volcanic and/or seismic crises in several places, particularly St. Vincent and Montserrat.
On Montserrat the main focus is the volcano-seismic crises of 1897-98, 1934-7, 1966-67, and the current Soufriere Hills volcano eruptive crisis, with a particular emphasis on the 1930s and 1990s, investigating several published and unpublished documents archived in the UK, USA, T&T and Montserrat. These archives include government correspondences (UK and local), scientists’ diaries and notebooks, scientific reports, radio recordings etc.
We are currently partnering with a wide cross section of organizations and individuals on island to include the Montserrat National Trust, the Montserrat Public Library, the Ministry of Education – through the Montserrat Secondary School (MSS) and Montserrat Community College (MCC) – former Officials and have the support of the Montserrat Tourism Division, the Montserrat Arts Council, ZJB, as well as various interested individuals.
Using roughly a similar approach as we did with the Mountain Aglow project, the “Curating Crises” will use the production of an art-science exhibit and/or digital content as a way to touch several topics related to volcanic eruptions and their social impacts, to include Geography, Social Sciences, History and the Arts through the engagement of students in the MSS and MCC and other members of the community.
We are hopeful to utilize several artistic/scientific activities, such as mural painting and/or film-making which will ultimately fit very well with the funding and project themes, by bringing to forefront the hidden histories (e.g. local people who participated in monitoring through the crisis, but are not always remembered) found in the archives.
Via the “Curating Crises” project, a website will also be built to make available to the wider community archives and research findings.
To learn more about the project, you may contact the MVO via email (mvomontserrat@gmail.com) or through our social media pages.
