Exploring the Wellcome Collection

Recently Staff and Students from the University College of Osteopathy (UCO) visited the Wellcome Collection in London, as part of their continuing studies and exploration of health.

The Wellcome Collection is a wonderful free museum and library that sets out to challenge how we all think and feel about health. The museum has a diverse range of exhibitions. Collections include live programming, digital, broadcast and publishing.  These work together to create opportunities for people to think deeply about the connections between science, medicine, life and art.

Yinka Shonibare’s ‘Refugee Astronaut’CC

Soran David, one of the UCO’s Educators had the following to say:

“I thought each exhibition offered something fascinating and intriguing about the nature of being human, what we humans make of our bodies and how we generate meaning around health. There was much in the ‘Medicine Man’ gallery that made me glad to be alive today, but I certainly wonder what the implications of biohacking in future are.

The ‘Misbehaving Bodies’ exhibition made me think about personal choices and how decisions are made about the particular body we inhabit. And the ‘Play Well’ exhibition interestingly tied it all together: without the capacity for imagination and improvisation, we wouldn’t have the potential for health we currently enjoy as a result of the discoveries that have been made over millennia.”

Shinto Shrine – Wellcome Collection CC

Katsi Yuen, one of the UCO’s Part-Time Year 3 students found that the exhibitions

“…tie in well with osteopathy because it is an integral part of the biopsychosocial aspects of human life and were very inspirational in the sense that it blended human, life, technology, science and art in various parts. Certainly makes us think more!”.

UCO Students and Staff visiting the Wellcome Collection, image courtesy of Soran David.

For more information about the Wellcome Collection visit their website.

Image Credits 

Unless otherwise stated images in this article are from the Wellcome Trust and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence.