Andrew Simpson — Macquarie University

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 hold an Honorary position with the Department of Ancient History. 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.

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Projects 2009 2019

1 Active
2 Finished

#OBLCoP: Resource Mapping of Collections for Learning and Teaching Pilot

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

8/01/18 → 30/06/19

Project: Other › Faculty Grant (FBE, FSE and FHS ONLY)

Object-based pedagogies in cross-disciplinary engagement

Simpson, A.

1/07/10 → 31/12/11

Project: Research

Australian University Collections: towards a third sector-wide review

Simpson, A.

1/08/09 → 31/07/11

Project: Research

Research Outputs 1987 2019

Natural History before Darwin...and after

Simpson, A. & August, J., Apr 2019, Humanist Viewpoints, 58, 2, p. 9-11 3 p.

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

Unlocking the learning potential of university collections

Hammond, G., Thogersen, J., Simpson, A. & Janiszewski, L., 21 Feb 2019, p. 8-9. 2 p.

Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract › Research › peer-review

Open Access

university

learning

curriculum

planning

methodology

A significance study of the University of Canberra's geological collection

Simpson, A. & Abdul Rahim, H., 17 Dec 2018, In : University museums and collections journal. 10, p. 35-45 11 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

university

graduate

industry

lack

economics

A university legacy collection and a (successful) tale of institutional transfer

Simpson, A., 6 Apr 2018, p. 6. 1 p.

Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract › Research

Creating curriculum connections: a university museum object-based learning project

Thogersen, J., Simpson, A., Hammond, G., Janiszewski, L. & Guerry, E., 22 Oct 2018, In : Education for Information. 34, 2, p. 113-120 8 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

Museums

Curricula

museum

Education

curriculum

Prizes

Best Student Presentation

Andrew Simpson (Recipient), 9 Feb 1994

Prize

student

Citation for Service

Andrew Simpson (Recipient), 5 Jun 2010

Prize: Other distinction

teachers' association

science

news

education

Citation for Service

Andrew Simpson (Recipient), 4 Jul 2009

Prize: Other distinction

university

Macquarie University Innovation Award

Andrew Simpson (Recipient), Ruth Mawson (Recipient), John Talent (Recipient) & Theresa Winchester-Seeto (Recipient), 1 Dec 2004

Prize

study program

museum

innovation

Teaching

learning

Museums and Galleries National Award

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

museum