Silke Ackermann
Curator
European and Islamic scientific
instruments, Arms & Armour (late medieval and post-medieval),
Measurement
Department:
Prehistory and Europe
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7323 8211
Email: sackermann @ thebritishmuseum.ac.uk
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 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 calendars, the links
between instrument-making, the construction of arms and armour
and in particular in the practical use of mathematics, for
example, in artillery.
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.
Current British Museum projects
Lead curator for Room 3, the Museum’s
experimental exhibition space
Maths and Measurement - Joseph Drecker and his instrument
collection
Previous British Museum projects
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External fellowships/ honorary positions/ membership of professional bodies
Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
Council member of the Scientific Instrument Society
Freeman of the Worshipful Company of
Scientific Instrument Makers
Freeman of the Worshipful Company of
Scientific Instrument Makers (Clockmakers)
Publications
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