Press release: Perspectives on colonialism and racism in academic research

No. 50 - 27.04.2026

Film followed by discussion at Forum Wissen on 20 May 2026

The subject of this public screening is diverse perspectives on colonialism and racism in the context of colonial interconnections in Göttingen’s academic history. The event is in English but questions in German are welcome and will be translated. Everyone interested is warmly invited and admission is free. The film is at 17:00 on Wednesday 20 May at the Forum Wissen – the knowledge museum of Göttingen University, Berliner Straße 28, 37073 Göttingen.

Examples from the University’s colonial history are already featured in several sections of the permanent exhibition “Spaces of Knowledge” at the Forum Wissen. Two rooms are currently being redesigned, each addressing sensitive topics – one focusing on racist stereotypes, the other on the handling of human remains in Göttingen’s collections.

The Studio space explores the role of imaging techniques in the history of research. It also presents ideas from the past that would today be known to be racist. However, the critical analysis is currently only available in the accompanying catalogue for the images in the room. Ongoing changes to this are recognised by the creation of a film: three people share their perspectives on the images and the way they are currently shown to the public in the exhibition space.

The Cabinets space explores the organisation of knowledge. The Blumenbach collection of skulls is one of the examples on display. The short film “Oceanbone” is being shown here. It conveys the perspective of the ancestors whose human remains were removed from their countries of origin in Pacific Island communities and taken to Europe during the colonial era. “Oceanbone” has won awards at several film festivals in the USA, such as the Indie Vegas Film Festival 2025.

California-based Director, Dr Lani Cupchoy, is a Native Hawaiian and Kānaka Maoli filmmaker and public historian. “Her film Oceanbone enriches the permanent exhibition at Forum Wissen,” says Museum Director Dr Sandra Potsch, “as does the film about the ongoing changes here made by the Göttingen-based film production company Akinema for the Atelier space.”

Göttingen’s Forum Wissen is marking these developments with a public screening of the two films (total running time: 20 minutes) with its event: “Perspectives on colonialism and racism in knowledge creation”. Following the screening, Professor Regina Bendix at Göttingen University’s Institute of Cultural Anthropology/European Ethnology will moderate the discussion in English with the following guests: Dr Lani Cupchoy, filmmaker; Dr Tarisi Vunidilo, Fijian archaeologist; Dr Janne Arp-Neumann, Forum Wissen’s Manager of Scientific Research; and Kaliova Bilo, protagonist in one of the films shown.

Content warning: please be aware the film “Oceanbone” contains scenes showing human remains.

Further information about the screening and discussion is here: Perspectives on colonialism and racism in knowledge creation.

Details about the Forum Wissen are here: https://www.forum-wissen.de/en/service-info/

Contact:

Dr Janne Arp-Neumann

University of Göttingen

Centre for Collection Development and Forum Wissen

Tel: +49 (0)551 39-26692

Email: arp@sub.uni-goettingen.de