The department Science, Technology, and Policy Studies (STePS) has a longstanding expertise in analyzing innovation and technology in society. Together with Museum Boerhaave in Leiden the team of prof. L.L. Roberts, professor for long-term development of science and technology, has curated an exhibition on the theme of waste and recycling. The exhibition is open until 31 January 2016.
Recycling, or the reuse of waste materials, is a present day challenge. Or maybe not? In the exhibition Wealth of Waste, visitors experience how 200 years ago recycling was everyday practice. City dwellers collected street filth to produce gunpowder. Gardeners cultivated vegetables on chimney soot. Potato peelings were converted into writing paper. And the Frisian entrepreneur Watse Gerritsma built a genuine chemical plant entirely without waste products. All byproducts were processed into handy end products via chemical cycles. Are were equally aware of the value of waste in our current throw-away society?
The exhibition is the result of the NWO project Chemistry in Everyday life headed by Lissa L. Roberts. The project members are drs. Joppe van Driel and dr. Andreas Weber.
Museum Boerhaave Leiden
For more information please check the website of Museum Boerhaave in Leiden. If you have questions, please contact Evelien Rietberg, tel. 053 489 3353.
