Mrs Robin Hansen
Curator, Minerals
Division: ES Mineral and Planetary Sciences Division
Team: Christopher Miller, Michael Rumsey, Robin Hansen, Stephen Stukins Specialisms: Curation and Collection Management, Gemmology, Mineralogy
Summary
With a love of minerals, gemstones and geology it is an honour to be working at the NHM in the role of Curator, Minerals and Gemstones. I have studied both geology and gemmology and have over thirteen years experience in both the mining sector and the private mineral collector world. My interests lie in gem and pegmatite minerals.
My role at the museum focuses on the care and management of the mineral and gem collections (approx. 185,000 specimens ) including curation, registration, documentation, rehousing, audits, and assisting with acquisitions. I facilitate collection requests including access for scientific visitors and researchers, general enquiries, scientific loans, destructive sampling, exhibition requests, and collection tours. I assist the Angela Marmot Centre with mineralogical or gemmological public ID enquiries. I regularly promote the collection through outreach at the Lyme Regis and Yorkshire Fossil Festivals, and in special exhibitions at worldwide mineral shows including in Munich, Germany and Tucson, USA.
I am involved in the upkeep of the specimens in the Mineral Gallery and Vault, Hintze Hall balcony display, Earth's Treasury, and the Earth Gallery Ground Floor atrium and have been involved in gallery enhancement projects in all four areas.
Qualifications
- Diploma of Gemmology, Gemmological Association of Great Britain, United Kingdom, 2010 - 2011
- Foundations in Gemmology, Gemmological Association of Great Britain, United Kingdom, 2009 - 2010
- Honours in Geology, Curtin University of Technology, Australia, 1998 - 1998
- Bachelor of Science, Multidisciplinary Science (Major: Geology, Minor: Geographic Information Systems), Curtin University of Technology, Australia, 1994 - 1997
Degrees
Employment history
- Curator, Minerals and Gemstones, Natural History Museum, Earth Sciences, United Kingdom, 2015 - ongoing
Academic
Non-academic
Mineralogical Assistant, Kristalle, 2014 - 2015
Mineralogical Sales Manager, Kristalle and Crystal Classics, 2005 - 2014
Exploration Geologist, Robe River Mining Company Pty Ltd, 1999 - 2002
Fellowships
Fellow of The Gemmological Association of Great Britain (FGA), Gemmological Assocation of Great Britain, 2011 - on going.
Memberships
Member, Geological Curators Group, 2015 - on going.
Member, Society of Mineral Museum Professionals, 2015 - on going.
Publications
Hansen R (2018) The W. G. Rutherfurd Collection of Agates. Journal of Gemmology, 36 (4) :
Hansen R (2018) A Sapphire ring in the Natural History Museum Collections.. Journal of Gemmology, 36 (1) : 12 - 13.
Hansen R, Rennie L (2018) The First Australian Diamond. The Australian Gemmologist, 26 (No. 9 & 10) : 205 - 208.
Hansen R (2017) Two Interesting Cameos in the Collection of the Natural History Museum, London.. Journal of Gemmology, 35 (8) : 706 - 707.
Hansen R, Rennie L (2017) Australian cassiterite and chrysoberyl: gem and mineral specimens from the Natural History Museum, London.. The Australian Gemmologist, 26 (No. 7 - 8) : 120 - 128.
Hansen R, Rumsey MS, Hart AD (2017) The Gemstone Collection of the Natural History Museum in London. The journal of Gemmology, 35 (6) : 502 - 504.