The Museum of Human Evolution collaborates with the University of Edinburgh's Prescribe Culture project as an invited institution in the 2022/2023 Take 30 Together Virtual (T30TV) programme. The MEH has been chosen as the international destination for these virtual visits. According to a statement from the University of Edinburgh, it was one of the most popular destinations following a survey among programme members.  

In a Microsoft Teams meeting, the MEH education team discussed the significance of the Sierra de Atapuerca archaeological sites. They presented the original fossils to the programme participants, who then shared their thoughts and asked questions on the topics discussed. 

Photo: Microsoft Teams Meeting 

Prescribe Culture is an initiative from the Scottish university launched in 2018 to support health, mental well-being and social care through cultural heritage. Participants in this programme are adults from diverse international and intergenerational backgrounds. They seek to alleviate the effects of loneliness, isolation and/or stress and anxiety by "escaping, exploring and connecting with the world of cultural heritage online", according to the same sources. 

The Take 30 Together Virtual (T30TV) programme was launched in May 2020 in direct response to the impact of the lockdown imposed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has continued to run every week since, offering members the opportunity to catch up, connect  online  and discover new stories, places and events related to cultural heritage. 

In addition to the Museum of Human Evolution, places and topics that members of this programme have explored virtually include Edinburgh Castle, the National Museum of Qatar, Blenheim Palace, the Fortnum and Mason Archives and the Sydney Living Museums. The Scottish university emphasises that, while learning is one of its aims, this is not an academic or educational programme. Instead, it is an online social prescribing and well-being programme. The sessions are held in English. Prescribe Culture's Take 30 Together Virtual (T30TV) recently won the Tech4Good 2021 Arts and Culture Award. More information on the initiative can be found at the following link: PRESCRIBE CULTURE | THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH  

The University of Edinburgh was founded in 1582 (it opened its doors in 1583), and is the fourth oldest university in Scotland. It receives around 60,000 applications each year, making it the third most popular university in the UK by number of applications, after Oxford University and Cambridge University.