John Cummings was based at the museums from April 2013 until January 2014 and has worked to engage both members of staff and the public on topics relating to Wikimedia and open knowledge. John’s role included running workshops and outreach events to create a sustainable engagement with museum staff, volunteers and visitors. The aim was to help to build a long term relationship between the museums and the Wikimedia community. He worked with the museums to release content on their important and unique collections and develop methods for understanding Wikipedia’s impact on the public understanding of science.
We want to make it easier for people to access information in museums in their own language
We want to create the world’s first truly multilingual virtual museum to allow anyone with access to Wikipedia (including those people using Wikipedia Zero) to 'visit' the museum online and provide information for the 50% of Natural History Museum visitors speak languages other than English in their own language.
Join TrowelBlazers in a one-day Wikipedia editathon dedicated to improving the Wikipedia pages of key women in archaeology, palaeotology and geology. There will be practical training in how to edit a wikipedia page, support and resources on-hand to make editing easier, and we’ve even lined up a team of experts (biographers and historians) to give talks about trowelblazing women and to lend their expertise. This event is open to those new to Wikipedia and to experienced contributors. Female editors are especially encouraged to attend. Help us improve the visibility of a host of forgotten women in science! We can think of no better way to celebrate International Archaeology Day, Earth Science Week AND Ada Lovelace Day.
Improve articles relating to the history of science or the natural world[edit]
Science Museum and Natural History Museum Wikimedian Residence 1st month report[edit]
During my first month of residency I have mainly focussed on researching the possible areas of collaboration, introductory meeting with staff members relevant to the project. Also carrying out presentations and informal meetings on Wikimedia projects and how to contribute to them and setting up small test projects to show effectiveness of contributing to and using Wikimedia and other open knowledge projects.
Science Museum and Natural History Museum Wikimedian Residence 1st month report[edit]
The second month of my residency has focused on research for an advisory report for the museums on the value of openly licensing its resources and setting up training. A full list of activities as follows:
Arranged training for around 70 people, to be carried out in the next 2 weeks
Talk to Science Museum staff about Wikimedia
Developing the first crowdsourced multilingual museum guide using Wikipedia, including running a photography event in conjunction with Imperial College Wikipedia Society
Research for reports to the museums titled: The value of open licensing content
Worked with the Science Museum to release 3 videos under an open license
A presentation to a United Nations International Seabed Authority workshop on Wikipedia, open licensing images and my work at the museums. The workshop was attended by 23 people made up of taxonomists, government contractors and an ISA representative.
Chart showing breakdown of participants of Imperial College Wikipedia presentation
A presentation of Wikimedia projects at Imperial College with two Imperial lecturers and one student given to a mix of 31 university students and staff.
A joint presentation to Science Museum Medical team with Lane Rasberry, the Wikipedian in Residence with Consumer Reports using Skype.
A brief outline of how the projects delivered link with the general objectives of the residency, and the Wikimedia UK’s mission[edit]
As far as I am aware this is the first time Wikimedia projects have been presented to a representative of the United Nations.
Making people aware of the work of Wikimedia and the benefits of releasing content under an open license.
Giving people the tools and knowledge to be able to contribute to Wikimedia projects through training and presentations.
Reports on the value of open licensing of images for the Natural History Museum and Science Museum, working with people from different departments.
Releasing 50 images from the Science Museum collection under an open license, currently in the process of surveying the Wikimedia community to guage which would be most useful and impactful.
Continuing to develop a multilingual museum guide using Wikipedia.
Working with the Natural History Museum video team to release videos under an open license.
The Science Museum will shortly release 50 Images from the Science and Society Picture Library, I'm currently surveying staff and Wikipedia community to compile a list of images.
Continuing to develop a multilingual museum guide using Wikipedia.
Working with the Natural History Museum video team to release videos under an open license.
Working with researchers in the Natural History Museum to set up a citizen science transcription project for scans of specimens.
Working with the Natural History Museum video team to create educational content to be released under a Wikimedia compatible open license.
Presentation to be used in conjunction with the value of open licensing reports
5th Month Report
Due to time off and attending a workshop, time in the museum working at the residency was reduced to 6 weeks. The residency is now done on a part time basis (20 hours per week).
The Science Museum will shortly release 50 Images from the Science and Society Picture Library, I'm currently surveying staff and Wikipedia community to compile a list of images.
Continuing to develop a multilingual museum guide using Wikipedia.
Working with the Natural History Museum video team to release videos under an open license.
Report on the value of open licensing images for the Science Museum
Guide on the value of open licensing images for educational organisations
Working with researchers in the Natural History Museum to set up a citizen science transcription project for scans of specimens.
Working with the Natural History Museum video team to create educational content to be released under a Wikimedia compatible open license.
Chart showing page views per day of Science Museum images released under a Creative Commons license on Wikipedia
ONS presentation at the Department for Education: Wikipedia’s role in education and how statistics work on Wikipedia, a copy of the presentation is linked to from this page.
Science Museum All staff briefing: presentation on the impact of open licensing, the presentation given can be viewed here.
Talk about female paleontologists in the earth sciences library, Natural History Museum as part of the Trowelblazers event.
TrowelBlazers: a one-day Wikipedia editathon dedicated to improving the Wikipedia pages of key women in archaeology, palaeotology and geology, link to the event page.
A brief outline of how the projects delivered link with the general objectives of the residency, and the Wikimedia UK’s mission[edit]
Understanding of Wikimedia
The contributions that institutions can make to open licensing and mechanics of doing so
Attended Tech4Open at Google HQ, run by Commons Machinery looking at the problem of attribution and credit being separated from images
Attended Developing an information system for UK natural science collections Project development workshop at the Linnean Society to discuss open licensing with natural science museums
Ran training with Office for National Statistics staff on making infographics available and usable for Wikipedia
Business use of social media in the UK
Childlessness at the age of 30 in the UK
Repeat victimisation in property crimes in the UK
Social variations in disability prevalence in England and Wales
The health gap measured by the range in England and Wales by Gender, 2011
Wikipedia editathon at the Natural History Museum with Imperial College Wikipedia Society and ONS staff on the 27th of November 2013
Ran an editathon with Imperial College students, outcomes included the writing of a Python script to find species names on Flickr image names and checks this against existing Wikipedia articles
A brief outline of how the projects delivered link with the general objectives of the residency, and the Wikimedia UK’s mission[edit]
Understanding of Wikimedia
The contributions that institutions can make to open licensing and mechanics of doing so