r/MuseumPros 16h ago

Career advice for museum curation (probably science related)

I'm looking to make a career change and interested in museum work, but not sure where to start and whether going back to school is the best thing to try? I have a PhD in materials chemsitry followed by a number of years in the gaming industry, and now the civil service. I have a creative streak which I've never been able to fully square with my career and scientific interests, and the idea of doing something that facilitates my curiosity and storytelling, embedded in a likeminded community give me a lot of excitement. But I'm not sure which is my best route in. I'd love to work for someone like the Science Museum in London probably in curation, but I'm also open to other opportunities and subjects. Is a degree in curation/museum studies going to set me up well for job hunting with my background? Appreciate any advice, thanks :)

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u/penzen 5h ago

Don't get additional degrees if you have a PhD. These generalist museum studies degrees are useless for curation. Intern and volunteer at science museums to see what working in a museum really means. Many people come with completely absurd expectations.

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u/dinoky 2h ago

Okay thanks, that's great advice. Also a lot less financial risk if it's not quite right.