Digital Heritage Research Associate
Department of Museum Studies
University of Leicester

Salary Grade 7 - £28,289 to £32,796 per annum
Available immediately for up to 2 years
Ref: R3383

Job Description and full application details at:
http://www.le.ac.uk/ms/R3383-ra-ad.doc and
http://www.le.ac.uk/ms/R3383-ra-jd.doc (note case sensitive)

As Digital Heritage Research Associate you will play a significant role in the development of our new Postgraduate Diploma/MA Digital Heritage by Distance Learning. Working alongside colleagues in the Department of Museum Studies (including Dr. Ross Parry and Dr. Giasemi Vavoula) you will provide high-level research skills and expertise in the area of museum computing - including e-learning, information management, digitisation, on-line media and in-gallery interactivity.

Through in-depth research into specified topics you will develop and produce high quality distance learning materials.

Candidates should be able to demonstrate a good understanding of distance learning and e-learning pedagogies and a personal research interest (or comparable practical expertise) in the broad field of museums and digital media.

In November I undertook a project with the Canadian Heritage Information Network to explore potential future information technologies and their implications for museums. First I identified 25 technological scenarios based on technologies that already exist, at least in the laboratory. Then we asked a number of experts who would help to predict when, if ever, these technologies would be widespread within North America. Subsequently, we held a session with museum professionals, consultants, students and educators to explore how these technolgies might be used in museums and imagine their transformative potential. The process is continuing this month with the writing of a number of 'vignettes' that depict new realities in which the museum might find itself in the coming years and the response to these vignettes by second year Museum Studies students who are looking at their current plans for an exhibit in 2007 and how these might change in light of tgechnological opportunities envisioned for 2013.

The experts predicted that within six years, most North American museums clients (though of course the statements say "Canadian" since the study was funded by CHIN) will consider it commonplace to: