Readdressing the University of Edinburgh African skull collections | Online

The Royal Society of Edinburgh

A conversation on the histories, legacies, and repatriation of Edinburgh’s African skull collections

Curious festival 2025

Curious is a festival of ideas – open to all and driven by connection, conversation, and discovery.

One of the largest anatomical collections in the UK is held by the University of Edinburgh’s Anatomical Museum, including human remains from across the world.Specimens from the collections have been used to teach medical students for 300 years, though in most cases human remains were taken without consent through the British Empire’s colonial networks. Almost 200 of these specimens are skulls unethically brought from Africa to Edinburgh in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries through British colonial activity. This talk is based on a recent project to research and improve documentation of the Anatomical Museum’s African skull collections as a basis for future repatriation requests.Ash Charlton will share the stories of the individuals whose skulls are in the collection, joined by Malcolm MacCallum for Q&amp;A, hosted by Omolabake Fakunle. Come join the conversation around how we understand and readdress our collections with colonial legacies. Want to attend in-person?This is a hybrid event. This event page is for the online tickets only. If you would like to attend in-person, please book your tickets through the<a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/reflections-on-human-rights-as-global-discourse-and-practice-in-person-tickets-751640987427" title="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/reflections-on-human-rights-as-global-discourse-and-practice-in-person-tickets-751640987427" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"> </a><a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1488749743559?aff=oddtdtcreator" title="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1488749743559?aff=oddtdtcreator" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">in-person event page</a>

Important points to note<ul><li>This event is suitable for age 16+</li></ul><ul><li>Content warning: Please note that this event will include discussion of medical practices and human remains collected in the nineteenth century through unethical means, and will refer to some outdated historical terminology and language usage encountered during the research. Due to the nature of this topic, these subjects are central to understanding the significance of colonial collections and discussion of them is unavoidable, though must be treated appropriately and acknowledged as difficult topics.</li></ul>

SPEAKER<h3>Ash Charlton</h3>PhD Student &amp; Africa Collections Researcher, University of EdinburghAsh is a PhD student at the University of Edinburgh, based in the History, Classics and Archaeology. She has recently been working with the University’s Anatomical Museum and Heritage Collections to research and improve documentation of individuals held in the Anatomy collection, investigating skulls taken from Africa in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Ash has worked in the heritage sector for several years and her PhD explores legacies of race and slavery in the early Encyclopaedia Britannica.

SPEAKER<h3>Malcolm MacCallum</h3>Anatomical Museum Curator, University of EdinburghMalcolm MacCallum is Curator and Researcher at the University of Edinburgh's Anatomical Museum and has worked in the heritage sector since 1996. He manages the curatorial team at the museum and the ongoing inventory project, carrying out research on the collections and curating the displays in the museum, working with colleagues in Anatomy as well as in Heritage Collections. Malcolm has been leading on recent repatriations of human remains from the Anatomical Museum.

CHAIR<h3>Dr Omolabake Fakunle</h3>Senior Lecturer and Chancellor's Fellow, University of EdinburghFollowing a 19-year professional career in accounting, auditing, banking and entrepreneurship, Labake moved to the UK in 2011 where she completed a BA (Hons) Business Admin (1st Class), MSc Educational Research, and her PhD in Education.Her research examines conceptualisations and enactment of inclusivity in internationalisation in educational policies and practices. She is interested in the connections between internationalisation, decoloniality, and employability.

About the Curious festivalThe RSE’s free Curious festival of knowledge is back, from Saturday 6 − Saturday 14 September 2025!Curious is a festival of ideas – open to all and driven by connection, conversation, and discovery. It’s a chance to explore ideas and questions that matter with some of Scotland’s leading thinkers – and with people who bring their own lived experiences, insights, and curiosity to the table.From science and society to arts and innovation, the programme spans a wide range of topics – with each event designed to spark dialogue, invite different perspectives, and encourage knowledge exchange.Curious is an opportunity to meet like-minded individuals, plus those who see the world differently, and be part of discussions where everyone is welcome to share, learn, and be inspired. <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/curious-festival-2025-4420713?utm-campaign=social&amp;utm-content=creatorshare&amp;utm-medium=discovery&amp;utm-term=odclsxcollection&amp;utm-source=cp&amp;aff=escb" title="https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/curious-festival-2025-4420713?utm-campaign=social&amp;utm-content=creatorshare&amp;utm-medium=discovery&amp;utm-term=odclsxcollection&amp;utm-source=cp&amp;aff=escb" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">full programme of events here.</a>

AccessibilityWe aim to make events as accessible as possible. If you have any accessibility requirements or have any questions related to how we can support this event, please contact public_engagement@theRSE.org.uk. Accessibility information for the RSE building can be found on our website: <a href="https://rse.org.uk/about-us/accessibility/" title="https://rse.org.uk/about-us/accessibility/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Accessibility - Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) : Royal Society of Edinburgh</a>The RSE is trialling the <a href="https://my.wel-co.me/venues/585" title="https://my.wel-co.me/venues/585" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">WelcoMe app</a> for our public events. This app enables visitors with accessibility needs to discreetly inform our staff of any assistance required before their visit. Simply fill out a quick form with your needs and estimated arrival time, and our team will be ready to accommodate you.Privacy PolicyPlease note that any personal data that is submitted to the RSE will be stored and processed in accordance with the RSE’s <a href="https://rse.org.uk/about-us/our-policies-and-corporate-information/privacy-policy/" title="https://rse.org.uk/about-us/our-policies-and-corporate-information/privacy-policy/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Privacy Policy</a>. We will only use mobile numbers provided to contact you in the event of a cancellation.NewsletterIf you would like to receive information from the RSE on forthcoming events and activities, including our Newsletter, please contact public_engagement@theRSE.org.ukPlease visit the <a href="https://rse.org.uk/whats-on/faqs-events/" title="https://rse.org.uk/whats-on/faqs-events/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">RSE FAQs</a> page for further details about venue and events.

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