Biography

Born in Glasgow in 1964, Neil Curtis came to Aberdeen in 1988 where he is now Head of Museums and Special Collections. He studied Archaeology (Glasgow, 1986), Museum Studies (Leicester, 1988) and Education (Aberdeen, 1995).

External Memberships

He is a member of the Museums Associations' Ethics Committee, and the Scottish Museums Recognition Committee. He was formerly Convenor of University Museums in Scotland, Vice President of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, and Vice-Chair of the Scottish Archaeological Finds Allocation Panel.

Research Overview

Within a broad interest in the ways that people understand and manipulate their world through ideas of identity, material and time, his research focuses on a critical study of museums and archaeology. This has included young children's learning in museums, considerations of the social and cultural roles of museums today, including repatriation and the treatment of human remains, and studies of Scottish museum history.

Current Research

History of Museums

1. The Scottish Exhibition of National History, Art and Industry, Glasgow 1911
2. Late 18th/early 19th century museums in the University of Aberdeen

Contemporary museum issues

1. Repatriation
2. Museums as sacred places
3. Human remains in museums
4. Scottish museums and Treasure Trove
5. Museum education

Scottish archaeology

1. Roman finds in North-East Scotland
2. Prehistoric Beakers in North-East Scotland

Funding and Grants

Leverhulme Trust 'Beakers and Bodies' project (PI)

AHRC Connected Communities - bennachie (Co-I)

Teaching Responsibilities

Undergraduate

Postgraduate