Name: AI in the Museum
Start: 2026-02-28T11:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-02-28T16:00:00+00:00
Location: Lecture Theatre, Scott Polar Research Institute

If museum objects could talk, what questions would you ask them?
About this Event

AI in the Museum

📅 Saturday 28 February 2026

📍Lecture Theatre, Polar Museum, Scott Polar Research Institute

If museum objects could talk, what questions would you ask them? If you could engrave your own illustrations on whale teeth like 18th-century sailors did, what would you make?

As part of (ArCH), the curator at the Polar Museum, Scott Polar Research Institute, has been working on an experimental research project with other academics, library and archive professionals and computing specialists to see how computer vision, language models and other AI tools can address these questions.

We’ll be showcasing this work on Saturday 28 February 2026. Join us for one of the following ✨free ✨activities.

👪🚸Both sessions are suitable for all ages. Please book a ticket for each adult and child attending. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Session 1 - If museum objects could talk : 11:00-13:00

An interactive session where you can talk to museum objects, hear their replies, and use AI to make your own digital scrimshaw (engravings on whale teeth). You can also stay on for a talk (12:00-13:00), where curators and other members of the project team reflect on the implications of AI for museum collections and practice, including environmental considerations.

Session 2 - Using AI in museums: 14:00-16:00

An interactive session where you can talk to museum objects, hear their replies, and make your own AI-image generated scrimshaw (engravings on whale teeth). You can also stay on for a talk (15:00-16:00) from experts on how these AI tools work (or didn’t work)and how ethical considerations were factored into design, including environmental impact.

♿ Accessibility information: This event is being hosted in the Scott Polar Research Institute lecture theatre. There is step free access through the side entrance. There is a row at the back for step-free seating options and space for wheelchair users along the rear wall. The lecture theatre has four steps down to the chair seating area.Unfortunately we cannot offer parking facilities, however please do get in touch regarding any access requirements.If you have any further questions about accessibility, please visit https://www.spri.cam.ac.uk/museum/accessibility/ or get in touch via [email protected].

This project is supported by funding from ai@cam and the Accelerate Programme for Scientific Discovery, made possible by a donation from Schmidt Sciences.