Our Past Participant Facilitator arrives!

Hi all,

Greetings from London! I am Shambo (Shambwaditya) Ghosh, your Past Participant Facilitator for this year’s ITP. I think you have already been informed about me through this blog. I arrived in London on the pleasant morning of 6th July. It was relatively hotter than I thought it would be before coming here. After reaching the visitor’s flat which is just next to the newly opened World Conservation and Exhibition Centre, Claire and Emma were waiting there at the door step for a warm welcome. The first day was spent on settling down and reading through the previous year’s ITP report to get oriented with recent developments of the programme after I attended the ITP in 2012. This gave me an understanding about the detail of my role and responsibilities added for the past participant facilitator.

Next day 7th July was the first day at the British Museum, and when I formally started my work with the ITP team. The day started with induction of the department of Egypt and Sudan along with the introduction of the departmental staffs. It was an orientation day about the Ancient Egypt and Sudan department, ITP and of course a reintroduction to the museum. Several meetings happened on the first day with Emma and Claire discussing the additions and development of the ITP. We discussed the schedule of the programme, arrangements and logistics to meet the expectation of this year’s ITP.

In between I got the chance to see the special exhibition Ancient Lives; New Discoveries. The exhibition is on recent scientific studies on Egyptian mummies. Some interesting case studies were displayed with help of hi tech digital implements to decode the mystery of mummification.

It was quite exciting to see the exhibition because it does not just contain scientific discoveries about the human body. It was more of a story-telling, connecting their time and contemporary scientific discoveries. As a lay person it interests me more to know the social and cultural relevance of preserving bodies after death.

I would like to know more about it from you who are coming from Egypt and Sudan. I am looking forward to see all of you.

Best Regards,

Shambo