“our goal is to work more closely together on care, interpretation and the celebration of world heritage collections through shared projects promoting co-curating, access to collections, and other activities central to reinventing museums in the 21st century as vigorous contributors to the global understanding of heritage”. – Grace Vele, Anthropology

NMAG supports a wide range of research activities across its different branches of science. NMAG can facilitate introductions, accompany scientific or academic teams to places of interest, assist with cultural heritage impact assessments and surveys, archaeological excavations, grant access to the NMAG collection storerooms, and provide basic study/office facilities for researchers (on arrangement).

NMAG also takes part in World War II retrieval fieldwork for the Australian, USA, and Japanese governments.

NMAG can provide letters of support for required entry visas, and ensure you have the correct permits to undertake any research, including information on filming.

Research that NMAG has assisted with over the last 24 months includes:

InstitutionArea of Research/StudySite
University of East Anglia – PhD studentBody adornments collected 1884-1906Central & Oro provinces
Conservation Environment Protection Authority (CEPA) & Australia National UniversityKuk – World Heritage Site listing & management planWestern Highlands Province
Kokoda Track AuthorityEtoa Battlefield excavations & film productionKokoda Track
Australian Museum (Sydney) and Queensland Museum (Brisbane)Sir William MacGregor’s CollectionsSouthern Region of Papua New Guinea
Australian MuseumBilas (Head-dresses) ExhibitionHighlands Region of Papua New Guinea
APEC Haus designSelection designs representing 22 provinces of PNG 
University of Otago, New ZealandArchaeology excavation & field studiesBoera, Papa & LeaLea villages, Central Province
University of Otago, New ZealandArchaeology excavationMt Bosavi, Central Province
Professor BryceCultural Heritage surveySouthern Highlands Province
Research Centre for Pan-Pacific Civilizations Ritsumeikan UniversityTapa (Bark clothing)Oro Province
University of Melbourne AustraliaIntricate designs on Clay PotsCentral Province
Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, University of East AngliaBody ornaments and adornmentsPapua New Guinea in general
Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, University of East AngliaThe art of Abelam CultureEast Sepik Province
Oxford University, EnglandContemporary Artistic and Material productionKiriwina – Trobriand Island, Milne Bay Province
Australian MuseumIntricate designs on domestic objectsSouthern Region of Papua New Guinea
Queensland UniversityHohao boards of GulfGulf Province
University of CambridgeSulka traditionsEast New Britain Province

In return NMAG requests each researcher to offer their time to present a small lecture on their chosen field as part of NMAGs ongoing lecture experiences for friends of the museum and its programs. These lectures can be public or internal, as requested.

If you are interested in conducting research in Papua New Guinea please contact the following officers:

Natural History – Jim Aniamato
janiamato@museumpng.gov.pg

Anthropology – Grace Vele
gvele@museumpng.gov.pg

Archaeology – Kenneth Miamba
kmiamba@museumpng.gov.pg

World War II/Modern History – Andrew Moutu andrew.moutu@museumpng.gov.pg