Andrew Simpson

Personal profile

Biography

Prior to working at Macquarie University I was a museum curator at the University of Queensland. While there, I secured internal research funding for a review of UQ's museums and collections. This led to the first development of a set of policy proposals for museums and collections at the university. These were subsequently endorsed and implemented by the University's Senate.

At Macquarie, I introduced and developed Australia's first undergraduate degree program in Museum Studies followed by named postgraduate degree programs. These programs were delivered by the Science Faculty and designed as an alternative to the usual art history / cultural heritage study to career path. It produced graduates for the sector with an enhanced understanding of science in museum practice as well as the more traditional areas of history and culture. These programs ran for 10 years.

Since ceasing full time employment at Macquarie in 2014, I undertake a range of paid and voluntary project work in higher education, heritage, museums and galleries. Recent projects include a casual teaching appointment to deliver AHIS205, An Introduction to Museum Practice and casual professional work with the university's archives and collections.

Research interests

I have research interests in the history, role and functions of museums in society, in particular, university museums, museum education, natural history and the public understanding of science. I also retain research interests stemming from my PhD studies in Paleozoic geology and conodont biostratigraphy and taxonomy.

External positions

Vice President, UMAC University Museums and Collections

5 Sep 2019 → 5 Sep 2022

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Projects

2 Finished

#OBLCoP: Curriculum mapping of collections and source-based learning pilot

Thogersen, J., Simpson, A., Hammond, G., Janiszewski, L. & Guerry, E.

8/01/18 → 30/06/19

Project: Teaching

Australian University Collections: towards a third sector-wide review

Simpson, A.

1/08/09 → 31/07/11

Project: Research

Research Outputs

Their work has revealed previously unnoticed cross-cultural transmissions and transformations that have shaped mainstream Australia

Simpson, A., Feb 2020, O KOSMOS Insight Series, 1, p. 86-88 3 p.

Research output: Contribution to Newspaper/Magazine/Website › Article

Vale Barrie Reynolds, the first President of CAUMAC

Simpson, A., 24 Feb 2020, CAUMAC wordpress site.

Research output: Contribution to Newspaper/Magazine/Website › Website contribution

Open Access

An arrangement of animals

Simpson, A., 2019, Zoographia: a Macquarie University Art Gallery exhibition in collaboration with the Department of Media, Music, Communication and Cultural Studies, and the Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University. Stone, J. (ed.). North Ryde, NSW: Macquarie University, p. 30-32 3 p.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Other chapter contribution

Audacious ideas: university museums and collections as change-agents for a better world

Hartz, J., Rothermel, B. & Simpson, A., Dec 2019, In : University Museums and Collections Journal. 11, 2, p. 171-175 5 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial

Developing cross-disciplinary networks with university collections: a case study

Simpson, A., Thogersen, J., Hammond, G., Janiszewski, L. & Guerry, E., 23 Aug 2019, In : University Museums and Collections Journal. 11, 1, p. 116 1 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Meeting abstract

Rhonda Davis (Recipient), Andrew Simpson (Recipient), Blanche Menadier (Recipient), Kenneth Sheedy (Recipient), Elizabeth Eyre (Recipient), Regina Hammond (Recipient), Jana Jones (Recipient), Ronald Oldfield (Recipient), Karl Van Dyke (Recipient), Kathrine Hargraves (Recipient), Leonard Janiszewski (Recipient), Jane Thogersen (Recipient) & Alison Downing (Recipient), 17 May 2014

Prize