The Visitor Studies Group

Chair

Helen is a science communicator with over ten years experience in the field. She has recently completed a PhD exploring public engagement with climate change, and is currently a Content and Visitor Researcher at At-Bristol and a Research Fellow at the Science Communication Unit at the University of the West of England, Bristol. She joined the VSG committee as Deputy Chair in 2009.

Helen Featherstone

Science Communicator

At-Bristol/ Univeristy of the West of England

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Deputy Chair

Elaine joined Amgueddfa Cymru in 2000. She is currently responsible for the Museum’s new public engagement and consultation scheme, which is part of its recently revised governance structure and Royal Charter. Since 1999, Elaine has been a Board member and freelance consultant for visual arts and craft organisations in England and Wales, and holds a BA in Photography (University of Wales Newport), and an Advanced Diploma in Arts Management (Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama). Elaine has been a helper and member of the VSG committee since 2008.

Elaine Cabuts

Museum Secretary

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

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Membership Secretary

Georgina is an Interpretation Developer at the Natural History Museum.  She develops exhibitions and has over 6 years experience of exhibition and programme evaluation. She is a graduate of the Institute of Archaeology, UCL and has been a helper and member of the VSG committee since 2006. She is also a member of the US based Visitor Studies Association. 

Georgina Bishop

Interpretation Developer

Natural History Museum, London

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Treasurer

Olga is a museum consultant specialising in exhibit, programme and software evaluation using quantitative and qualitative methodologies. She has previously worked as a Research Associate at Audience Focus Ltd, curator at the National Historical Museum, Athens and at the Greek Ministry of Culture. Olga holds a BA in Archaeology and History of Art from Athens University and an MA and PhD in Museum Studies from UCL. She has been a VSG committee helper and member since 2007.

Olga Fakatseli

Museum Consultant

London

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Committee Member (Web Content Assistant)

Melissa has worked at MLA London as the Museum Development Officer, Networks and Training since October 2006. In this role Melissa manages a programme called understanding audiences that supports museums throughout London to improve audience monitoring and evaluation techniques and encourages them to share best practice. She has recently completed an MA in Museum Studies from Leicester University in which her dissertation investigated the differences in visitor behaviour in paid and free museum spaces.

Melissa Bentley

Museum Development Officer: Networks and Training

MLA London

Committee Member (Web Content Co-Ordinator)

Emily is exploring public engagement with science in terms of social inclusion for her PhD at Kings College. She spent two years as a research associate at the Science Communication Unit at UWE, on a combination of engagement and research projects. Emily has a Museum Studies MA from Leicester University and has worked for a range of museums including the Costume Museum (Bath), the Royal Institution and MA research at the Natural History Museum."

Emily Dawson

PhD Research Student

King's College London

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Committee Member

Maggie has been with Chester Zoo for almost four years. Before that she was with Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust (Jersey Zoo). She has an MA in Education, Cert Ed HE/FE, Certificate in Health Education, Member of the Institute of Public Relations, and Member of the Chartered Society of Designers. She is currently in a Doctorate programme at Liverpool John Moores University. Her field of investigation is the role of zoos as education providers. Maggie has been a VSG committee member since 2008.

Maggie Esson

Education Programmes Manager

Chester Zoo, North of England Zoological Society

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Committee Member

Emily Johnsson

Morris Hargraves Macintyre

Committee Helper

Sofie works as an Audience Researcher at the Science Museum. She has conducted formative evaluation for the interactive Launchpad gallery, prototype testing exhibits, interpretation methods and the associated website. She has also been involved in researching audience needs for web projects, and evaluating teacher’s courses and Outreach programmes. Sofie previously worked freelance as a museum educator at institutions such as the Museum of Immigration and Diversity and the British Museum. She has been a VSG committee helper since 2008.

Sofie Davis

Audience Researcher

Science Museum, London

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Committee Helper

Jen is currently a researcher at King's College London, focusing on students' aspirations in science. She also has experience in exhibit and programme development and evaluation and has previously worked for Scholastic, the New York Botanical Garden and the Children's Museum of Houston. Jen holds a BA in Psychology (Brown University), an MA in Developmental Psychology (UCLA) and has completed a PhD and post-doc in Science Education which focused on school trips (King's College London, Centre for Informal Learning and Schools).

Jen DeWitt

Researcher

King's College London

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Committee Helper

Susie is an audience consultant, specialising in qualitative evaluation. What interests her professionally is understanding how audiences relate to difficult concepts, how to engage people with them, and how to use objects to tell stories. Clients include the Science Museum, The V&A, King’s Place, the Design Council, the British Library and the Royal College of Pathologists. Susie is a graduate of Oxford and Harvard, studying psychology, philosophy and education. She is a founder member and former Chair of the VSG, and rejoined the committee as a helper in 2009.

Susie Fisher

Director

The Susie Fisher Group

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Committee Helper

Sheena Muncie

Director

Scotinform Ltd.