Dr Sarah Joomun

Role summary

Sarah is responsible for managing the museum’s digital collections, this includes:

  • Overseeing the documentation of collections and coordinating documentation procedures across the museum’s specimen, object and archive collections
  • Making collections data available online
  • Managing of the collection management system, Axiell EMu, and supporting users
  • Managing the documentation of external loans for exhibitions 

Sarah is a specialist in natural history metadata and digitisation, particularly of fossils and archives. She is currently working on a project to redevelop the museum’s online collections and is one of the museum leads for the OXLOD Linked Open Data Project.  

CV

Sarah has worked at the Museum since 2010 on a wide range of collections digitisation projects, from 3D digitisation of fossils, to scanning and cataloguing archival material. She introduced an integrated collections management system at the museum and has been involved in several stages of development of the online collections' search functions. She has just completed a project to amalgamate and migrate the Museum's collections data to the Axiell EMu collections management system.

Sarah has an BSc in Geology and Geophysics from the University of Durham, an MSc in Palaeobiology from the University of Bristol and a PhD on fossil mammal tooth microwear and diet from Royal Holloway University of London and the Natural History Museum in London, during which she carried out digital imaging and collections-based research in European museums. 

Publications

Joomun, S.C., Hooker, J.J. & Collinson, M.E. 2008. Dental wear variation and implications for diet: an example from Eocene perissodactyls (Mammalia). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 263, 92–106.

Joomun, S.C., Hooker, J.J. & Collinson, M.E. 2010. Changes in dental wear of Plagiolophus minor across the Eocene-Oligocene transition. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30, 563–576.

Siveter D.J., Briggs D.E.G., Siveter D.J., Sutton M.D., Joomun S.C. 2013 A Silurian myodocope with preserved soft-parts: cautioning the interpretation of the shell-based ostracod record. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 280, 20122664.

Siveter D.J., Sutton M.D., Legg D., Joomun S. 2014 A Silurian short-great-appendage arthropod. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 281, 20132986.

Featured projects

Project Officer, Lyell Digitization Project. 2015–16. Funded by the Street Foundation.

Documentation Officer, Gems of Earth and Air. 2014–15. Funded by the Designation Development Fund, Arts Council England.

Collections Assistant, Flying Icons: The Collection of William Jones of Chelsea (1745-1818) and the Jones’ Icones. 2013–14. Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Collections Assistant, William Smith Online: The Father of English Geology. 2012–13. Funded by the Designation Development Fund, Arts Council England.

Collections Assistant, GB3D Type Fossils Online. 2011–12. Funded by JISC.