Content Developer
The Science Museum
Anita B
00:00:03 My name’s Anita B and I am a Content Developer for the Climate Change Project at the Science Museum. And so, my job is to research everything that we might possibly put into an exhibition. So, for example, with us, we wrote an entire list of questions that we personally might want answered. So, things like, why is, why is it happening? How do we know it’s happening? All of those kind of things. And then we just go from there. If there’s characters who keep coming up in the research we contact them and see if they wanna be involved and what they’re doing. Those kind of things.
00:00:41 When I was very young, when I was a kid, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. My sister wanted to be a vet and I thought, oh, that sounded like a good idea but I didn’t really wanna do that. I just kind of said I did. Then when I was in high school I had a physics teacher who showed us a physics lecturer, who showed lots of people demonstrations of science and stuff and I thought that was amazing. It looked so much fun. You got to blow up stuff and make things move and it was, it was really interesting.
00:01:08 And so, from about high school on I thought I wanted be a physics lecturer because that’s what I thought physics lecturers did. And then as I went on I decided I didn’t like physics all that much and I went on to study chemistry. And I also studied linguistics. And then as a means of not getting a real job I stayed at university for a few more years and ended up doing a graduate diploma in Science Communication.
00:01:33 And the reason I did that was because the Science Communication course that I did was all about demonstrating these physics and chemistry ideas and it sort of sparked back when I was in high school and I was like, finally I might actually get to do this stuff. That, in turn, then developed into museum based projects which then finally led me into exhibition work which has been an interesting path and I’ve, I’ve actually really enjoyed almost every minute of it. It’s been really good.
00:02:05 I’ve been really lucky I think. I’ve been inspired by numerous people. My dad is very curious which inspired curiosity in us. In fact, my, my father’s a climate change scientist and my brother is as well. I think I was also inspired by my physics teacher. But then also, it’s been a snowball effect. The more you do it and the more you see others get excited by it, the more you like doing it and so this positive feedback means that you get a big kick out of doing it and you wanna keep doing it.
00:02:39 I’ve followed the path of least resistance and I’ve been lucky in that I’ve actually enjoyed what I’ve done. The only point where I’ve had to make a conscious decision about my career was when I did the graduate diploma. That’s been the biggest single decision. Having finished a chemistry degree, I thought I could be a chemist or a teacher. And so, I was like, I don’t really wanna be either of those and I just did the graduate diploma and I’ve loved it but I haven’t made any major decisions from that point.
00:03:11 Once I got the climate change job I was ecstatic. Not only was I working on an exhibition but this is the biggest gallery-based exhibition the Science Museum’s ever proposed and it’s within the Science Museum. This is, it’s kind of the pinnacle of exhibition development work within Europe. It’s very exciting. As for where I wanna go next I’m, I’m still interested in travelling and working overseas potentially. And that, that will depend on the opportunities that come up here.
00:03:43 So, if that means being here for a few years and working my way up I think that would be really good. And then eventually back to Australia working for a big science centre or museum as the Head of Content. That’s something that I would really like to do. Any further up than the Head of Content and you start getting into strategy and you’re not actually in the creative side of things as much, so I don’t think I’d wanna go any further than that. But we’ll see. I might change my mind once I’m there. ENDS
Fascinated by science from an early age and inspired by family and her dynamic physics teacher, Anita studied chemistry, linguistics and then a graduate diploma in Science Communication. Curious by nature, Anita is passionate about her job with The Science Museum. She is in her element researching information for the biggest gallery-based exhibition on climate change.
More information about Archivists and curators
The UK average salary is £29,813
There are 37.5 hours in the average working week
The UK workforce is 47% female and 53% male
Future employment
- Examines, appraises and advises on the acquisition of exhibits, historic records, government papers and other material;
- Classifies material and arranges for its safe keeping and preservation;
- Maintains indexes, bibliographies and descriptive details of archive material and arranges for reproductions of items where necessary;
- Examines objects to identify any damage and carries out necessary restoration whilst preserving original characteristics;
- Makes sure that storage and display conditions protect objects from deterioration and damage;
- Allows access to original material or material not on display for researchers;
- Develops and promotes ideas for exhibitions and displays;
- Negotiates loans of material for specialist displays;
- Liaises with school and other groups or individuals, publicises exhibits and arranges special displays for general, specialised or educational interest;
- Answers verbal or written enquiries and gives advice on exhibits or other material.
