Lectures & Courses
I have taught and lectured on a wide range of topics in art, history, the history of science, and museum studies. I have a clear and lively presentation style, with a strong emphasis on compelling visual imagery.
From 2015 to 2020, I developed and taught a course on interpretation and content development for MFA students in the Museum Exhibition Planning & Design (MEP+D) program at the University of the Arts (UArts) in Philadelphia.
I was Professor of History of Science at the Wagner Free Institute of Science from 2011 to 2015. I taught or co-taught five adult education courses on natural history, the history of photography, science in Philadelphia, and the history of engineering.
I taught a four-session adult education course in 2015 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art entitled “Beyond the Water-Lily Pond: Reexamining French Impressionism.”
See Projects for a listing of more past courses and lectures.
Comments from UArts students:
"Jane gives excellent one-on-one feedback and is always extremely prepared with thorough, thoughtful readings and materials to use as examples of strong exhibit development strategies."
"Jane's lectures are always timely, helpful, and interesting. She also clearly cares about her students as learners and as people, and I'm so glad to have had her as a teacher this semester."
"Jane is amazing! I really enjoyed her class and the feedback I got from her was extremely valuable."
—Exhibition Content Development, Fall 2018
Comments from Wagner students:
“Dr. Boyd was excellent in every way. She invited questions and answered meaningfully every time. Answers further demonstrated knowledge.”
“Great course, great instructor—a very enjoyable experience.”
—Beyond Ben: Science, Technology, & Medicine in Philadelphia,
1700–1900, Fall 2014
“Fascinating perspective. Presented with compassion and wisdom.”
“Professor offered a clear account of the status of science as it relates to other facets of society/culture/government.”
“Course content was fascinating! Excellent job! Thoroughly enjoyable! Wonderful instructor—thank you!”
—Natural History from Antiquity to Now, Fall 2013
Image: Magic lantern show, from a box for a magic lantern, around 1900. Image source
From 2015 to 2020, I developed and taught a course on interpretation and content development for MFA students in the Museum Exhibition Planning & Design (MEP+D) program at the University of the Arts (UArts) in Philadelphia.
I was Professor of History of Science at the Wagner Free Institute of Science from 2011 to 2015. I taught or co-taught five adult education courses on natural history, the history of photography, science in Philadelphia, and the history of engineering.
I taught a four-session adult education course in 2015 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art entitled “Beyond the Water-Lily Pond: Reexamining French Impressionism.”
See Projects for a listing of more past courses and lectures.
Comments from UArts students:
"Jane gives excellent one-on-one feedback and is always extremely prepared with thorough, thoughtful readings and materials to use as examples of strong exhibit development strategies."
"Jane's lectures are always timely, helpful, and interesting. She also clearly cares about her students as learners and as people, and I'm so glad to have had her as a teacher this semester."
"Jane is amazing! I really enjoyed her class and the feedback I got from her was extremely valuable."
—Exhibition Content Development, Fall 2018
Comments from Wagner students:
“Dr. Boyd was excellent in every way. She invited questions and answered meaningfully every time. Answers further demonstrated knowledge.”
“Great course, great instructor—a very enjoyable experience.”
—Beyond Ben: Science, Technology, & Medicine in Philadelphia,
1700–1900, Fall 2014
“Fascinating perspective. Presented with compassion and wisdom.”
“Professor offered a clear account of the status of science as it relates to other facets of society/culture/government.”
“Course content was fascinating! Excellent job! Thoroughly enjoyable! Wonderful instructor—thank you!”
—Natural History from Antiquity to Now, Fall 2013
Image: Magic lantern show, from a box for a magic lantern, around 1900. Image source