JC Niala
Head of Research, Teaching and Collections
History of Science Museum, University of Oxford
JC Niala became head of research, teaching and collections at the History of Science Museum, University of Oxford, in 2022. She is also an Official Fellow of Reuben College. Niala previously worked at the Horniman Museum and Gardens in London, and most recently at Cambridge University Libraries as its inaugural head of world collections.
Niala’s research and practice combine history, anthropology and public engagement, with a particular focus on collaborative approaches to collections, heritage and imagination.
“My work at the History of Science Museum is an amalgamation of my passion for exploring global histories, science, and the impact of museology,” Niala said.
“My research is centred on the social and cultural histories of science, with a particular focus on how knowledge is created, transmitted, and experienced across different communities and contexts.”
She added, “I work at the intersection of history, heritage, and contemporary practice, often using interdisciplinary and creative methods to explore how we understand the past and engage with it today.”
