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“Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine in Harry Potter’s World” is on display at the UAMS Library.
Image by Evan Lewis
UAMS Library Hosts Exhibit on Roots of Renaissance Science in ‘Harry Potter’
| The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) is hosting a traveling exhibit that explores the magic of the “Harry Potter” series and its roots in Renaissance discovery.
“Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine in Harry Potter’s World” is on display at the UAMS Library through Feb. 28. The exhibit uses materials from the National Library of Medicine to examine the ethical issues that affected not only the characters of “Harry Potter,” but also the real-life historical figures who inspired the work of author J.K. Rowling.
Those issues include the desire for knowledge, the effects of prejudice and the responsibility that comes with power.
“Like the fictional Harry Potter, many Renaissance alchemists, naturalists and physicians struggled with the responsibilities that came with their attempts to understand the world,” the exhibit says.
Jordan Ford, outreach services librarian at the UAMS Library, said the exhibit shows how Renaissance-era texts on alchemy, astrology and natural philosophy influenced the world of “Harry Potter,” bridging the gap between historical scholarship and modern pop culture.
“Given the widespread popularity of ‘Harry Potter,’ this exhibit provides an accessible and engaging way to introduce students to the historical foundations of science and medicine while encouraging them to think critically about the evolution of knowledge,” she said.
The National Library of Medicine offers a variety of traveling exhibits to libraries, museums and academic institutions across the United States. Hosts are chosen through an application process, and Ford said the UAMS Library was excited to be selected for the first time since 2015.
“We hope exhibits like this one remind students, faculty members and health care professionals that the library is more than a study space — it’s a hub for medical discovery, interdisciplinary collaboration and lifelong learning,” she said.
The UAMS Library provides support for health sciences education, research and clinical practice, offering access to a collection of medical journals, databases, historical archives and digital collections. Ford said that in addition to research consultations, the library staff offers expert literature searching services, citation management tools, interlibrary loan services and librarian-led class instruction.