Dr. Rebekah Higgitt

Biography

Rebekah Higgitt is an Honorary Fellow at the School of Social and Political Science and the Principal Curator of Science at the National Museums Scotland. With a focus on the history of science from the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries, her research interests delve into the representation of science, the imagery used in museums, and the relationship between scientific institutions and society. She completed her PhD at Imperial College London, producing the notable work 'Recreating Newton: Newtonian Biography Making Nineteenth-Century History Science' in 2007. As an ESRC-funded postdoctoral research associate at the University of Edinburgh, she explored the histories and geographies of the British Association for the Advancement of Science from 1831 to 1931. Higgitt also served as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Kent, where she supervised PhD students and taught various modules on the history of science, technology, and material culture. Her extensive experience included curating exhibitions and managing significant collections, such as the astronomy artifacts at the National Maritime Museum. Her scholarly contributions include a range of publications focused on the integration of science and society, with a notable role as a Co-Investigator for AHRC-funded projects aimed at enhancing the understanding of scientific heritage. Throughout her career, Higgitt has significantly influenced the field through both her research and practical engagement with historical artifacts.

Research Interests

Experience