Kai Bosworth

Kai Bosworth is a research fellow with The Natural History Museum, where he specializes in the history of natural history museums, public relations, and the politics of public science. Kai is also a PhD candidate in the department of Geography, Society and Environment at the University of Minnesota, where he researches how controversy surrounding oil pipelines is changing political conceptions of land in the Dakotas. Kai holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Macalester College and an M.A. in Geography from the University of Minnesota.

Relevant Projects

Some projects: we've been working with top scientists around the world to encourage science and natural history museums to cut ties to fossil fuel interests. More recently, we released a letter signed by 2000+ museum directors and staff, archaeologists, anthropologists and historians in support of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and decrying the recent destruction of cultural heritage and Native American burial grounds by the Dakota Access Pipeline company. In the last 2 years we've held exhibitions at museums in Queens, NY and Houston, TX in collaboration with community groups on the front lines of the climate crisis that explore the intersections of climate change, racial and environmental justice, science, and public health. Upcoming initiatives: we are in the process of developing a consortium of museum professionals, scientists, and local community groups aimed at transforming science and natural history museums into institutions that advance social and environmental justice. And we are developing a pilot project at 3-5 science / natural history museums around the country in partnership with local Native communities to develop content and programs that lift up the pressing contemporary issues and environmental justice concerns those communities face. Finally, we're building a collection and series of essays that re-interpret the history of natural history museums, connecting past to present to offer tools to shape the future.

Affiliation

The Natural History Museum

Sector

Museum, Academic

Website

http://thenaturalhistorymuseum.org/

Twitter

kaibosworth