From anatomical models and drawings to digital visualisations, the University of Edinburgh’s collections reflect pioneering work to understand the human body. This exhibition explores the history of technologies in the field of disability, highlighting medical innovation and tools for research and teaching. By using 3D scanning and audio description, we also hope to use technology to make our exhibitions more inclusive and widen access to our collections.

This online exhibition follows the physical display in the Centre for Research Collections as part of Phenomenal Bodies: Exploring Disability in Scottish Academic Collections, a project co-ordinated by the University of St Andrews. The project features a series of exhibitions of historic collections across Scotland, designed with accessibility in mind and shaped by individuals and communities with lived experience of the themes that they explore. Phenomenal Bodies aims to start open and inclusive conversations about the history and representation of disability.

The exhibition is accompanied by audio description throughout.