Supported by
The support of the Scottish Funding Council is vital to our work to inspire and share knowledge with audiences, local communities, and future generations.
(Exhibit) Healing histories
When
Saturday 5 – Sunday 13 September, open 12:00-18:00 daily
Where
The Royal Society of Edinburgh
22-26 George St, Edinburgh EH2 2PQ
View directions on Google Maps
Format
In-person
Access
Wheelchair access, Wheelchair accessible toilets
Age
Suitable for ages 16+
Cost
Free to book
About this event
Perceptions of what is considered knowledge and whose contributions are recognised have long been shaped by power.
This exhibition is a small, self-guided exhibit.
European colonialism left a lasting legacy of Eurocentric bias, often overlooking or undervaluing contributions from Africa and other parts of the Global South. As universities increasingly examine the colonial legacies embedded in knowledge production, teaching and research, these questions are becoming more important than ever.
This interactive exhibition celebrates often-overlooked individuals, communities and cultures from Africa whose contributions have influenced major medical and scientific breakthroughs. The displays will also showcase ongoing decoloniality initiatives across Scottish universities and institutions, including efforts to diversify curricula and research practices.
The exhibit will be open to view for the duration of the Curious festival and tickets are valid at any time on the day booked, but you must book tickets for the roundtable.
Note for attendees: This exhibit includes themes of coloniality, empire and decoloniality.
Event type
Curious
Exhibition
Contributors
Dr Samuel Owusu Achiaw
Research Associate, University of GlasgowDr Samuel Owusu Achiaw is a researcher with a clinical background at the Health Economics and Health Technology Assessment Unit at the School of Health and Wellbeing (SHW) in the University of Glasgow. He holds a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) degree from the Kwame Nkrumah University in Ghana and a Master of Public Health (Health Economics specialism) degree from the University of Glasgow. Samuel’s research interests include (early) health technology assessment of digital and emerging health technologies and the economic evaluation of public health interventions. He is also interested in healthcare financing research in low- and middle-income countries. Within SHW, Samuel co-leads initiatives to decolonise the curriculum of master’s programmes as well as lead advocacy for international staff and students.
Oluwatobi On
(Information Analyst, Public Health Scotland; Honorary Research Fellow, University of GlasgowOluwatobi Oni is an Information Analyst at Public Health Scotland and an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Glasgow’s School of Health and Wellbeing (SHW). With a background in pharmacy, public health, and data science, he specialises in translating complex health data into actionable insights to reduce health inequalities and inform public policy.
Grounded in a commitment to equity, his work extends beyond analysis to making data science and education more inclusive. Within the University of Glasgow’s School of Health and Wellbeing, Oluwatobi actively contributes to initiatives aimed at decolonising the curriculum, researching how inclusive education shapes learning experiences, and advocating for diverse perspectives in knowledge production.
Dr Teresa Abonambugre
University of GlasgowDr Teresa Abonambugre is an early career public health researcher with a background in epidemiology. She holds a Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana and a Master of Public Health (Epidemiology specialism) from the University of Glasgow. Teresa’s research interests include understanding how biological, phenotypic, and sociodemographic factors influence chronic disease outcomes and health inequalities, particularly in relation to chronic pain and mental health. She is also interested in public engagement with research, particularly among underserved and vulnerable communities. Within the University of Glasgow’s School of Health and Wellbeing, Teresa contributes to initiatives focused on decolonising the curriculum and supporting inclusive approaches to public engagement. Her work explores how historical and structural inequalities influence health research, education, outcomes, while engaging broader and more inclusive perspectives within public health.
Dr Milena Dobreva
Senior Lecturer in Information Behaviour, University of StrathclydeDr Milena Dobreva is a Senior Lecturer in Information Behaviour at the University of Strathclyde. Her research focuses on innovation diffusion processes within the cultural and scientific heritage sectors. She has contributed to EC-commissioned technology watch reports and coordinated research exploring user needs and behaviours within the digital heritage domain
Dr Dobreva’s work also explores media and information literacy, as well as the societal impacts of misinformation and disinformation. She is actively involved in international, interdisciplinary projects, including initiatives on responsible digitalisation, open science, and decolonising practices within galleries, libraries, archives, and museums (GLAM).
Dr Christine Whyte
Senior Lecturer in History, University of GlasgowCHAIR
Dr Christine Whyte is a senior lecturer and global historian at the Univeristy of Glasgow. Her research focuses on West Africa, slavery and its abolition, and the history of children and childhoods. She founded the Beniba Centre for Slavery Studies and is an active member of the Centre for Gender History. Her interests include the importance of children and ideas about childhood to labour regimes, particularly those systems designed to bring an end to slavery, the historical experiences of enslaved children, and the history of colonisation in Africa more broadly. She is also a member of the Africa Working Group of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Contact us
If you have an event enquiry, please email us on public_engagement@theRSE.org.uk.Event testimonial
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What is Curious?
Curious is the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s (RSE) free festival that celebrates the research, ideas and knowledge shaping society today.
Each year, Curious brings a packed programme of free in-person and online events covering themes from the arts, humanities, policy, science and more. To date, we’ve welcomed over 10,000 attendees for talks, workshops, exhibitions and discussions where you can learn from and speak with Scotland’s leading thinkers. As part of the RSE’s mission to make knowledge useful and accessible for everyone, Curious is open to anyone who wants to learn more about the world around them. No specialist knowledge is needed, just bring your curiosity.
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