Humboldt Professor Sharon Macdonald

“Museums are extremely important for our societies because that is where people decide which things will play a role in the future,” says Sharon Macdonald in response to a question about her scientific interests. The British ethnologist investigates the criteria and decision- making processes that go into selecting objects and artefacts for exhibitions.

“In this respect, Berlin, for me, is a fantastic laboratory of exciting things,” says Macdonald, commenting on her new home. Since she took up her Humboldt Professorship, one of the things she has been involved in is developing a strategy for the future Berlin Humboldt Forum. And she demonstrates exactly what good academic networking is all about: with her as the motor, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, the Museum für Naturkunde and the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation are building a Centre for Heritage and Museum Research in Berlin. “Knowledge transfer has a lot to do with emotions and feelings, particularly in museums,” comments Sharon Macdonald.