Silke Ackermann

Curator
European and Islamic scientific instruments, Arms & Armour (late medieval and post-medieval), Measurement Department:
Prehistory and Europe

 

Silke Ackermann is responsible for the Museum’s European and Islamic collections of scientific instruments. She is particularly interested in the transfer of knowledge between the Islamic World and the (Jewish and Christian) West with special emphasis on science in its cultural and social context.

She looks at science in its widest sense and includes aspects in her research that would nowadays be regarded as ‘occult’, such as astrology. Additionally, she is interested in the links between instrument-making and the construction of arms and armour and in particular the practical use of mathematics in artillery. Other interests include calendars, the concept of the ‘Kunstkammer’ across Europe, and collections and collectors.

Prior to joining the Museum, Silke worked at the Institute for the History of Science at Frankfurt University after studying History, Oriental Languages and Cultures, and History of Science at Frankfurt.

Contact

sackermann@thebritishmuseum.ac.uk
+44 (0)20 7323 8211

Current projects

  • Why does ‘when’ matter? A question of TIME

  • Maths and Measurement - Joseph Drecker and his instrument collection

Previous projects

  • Lead curator for Room 3, the Museum’s experimental exhibition space

  • Lead curator for TIME – a cross-cultural gateway to the British Museum

  • Curatorial Team for the development of the Enlightenment Gallery

External fellowships/ honorary positions

  • Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries

  • Advisory Board of the Mathematisch-Physikalischer Salon, Dresden (Germany)

  • Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Scientific Instrument Makers

  • Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Scientific Instrument Makers (Clockmakers)

Recent publications

S. Ackermann, ‘Habent sua fata libelli – Michael Scot and the transmission of knowledge between the courts of Europe’, in Gundula Grebner und Johannes Fried (Hg.), Kulturtransfer und Hofgesellschaft im Mittelalter. Wissenskultur am sizilianischen und kastilischen Hof im 13. Jahrhundert, Berlin 2008, S. 273-84.

S. Ackermann, ‘Maths and Memory: Calendar Medals in the British Museum – A catalogue’, The Medal, 45 (2004), pp. 3-43, 46 (2005), pp. 3-22

S. Ackermann, ‘The Path of the Moon Engraved - Lunar Mansions on European and Islamic Scientific Instruments’, in Il Sole e la luna – The Sun and the Moon, Micrologus XII (Florence, Sismel Edizioni del Galluzzo, 2004), pp. 135-164 and figures 1 – 14

S. Ackermann, 'Dormant Treasures - The Zinner-Archive at Frankfurt University’, in NUNCIUS, 16 (2001), pp. 711-722

S. Ackermann, TIME with P. Buck, (London, BMP, 1999)

S. Ackermann, EPACT - A European Community-funded digital catalogue of pre-1600 European scientific instruments, with The Museum of the History of Science in Oxford, the Museo di storia della scienza in Florence and the Museum Boerhaave in Leiden, stand-alone version 1998, web launch 2000 www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/Epact

 
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