91398 - Scientific Museology

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide knowledge on the history and research themes of the various scientific museums in the naturalistic, biological, ecological, geological and paleontological fields, as well as  on the related themes of conservation, research and teaching. Starting from the history of the formation of the scientific museums of the Bologna university and on the basis of the scientific and didactic experience gained by the teachers responsible for the collections over time, the student will be able to understand the meaning of "making" a museum and creating an exhibition of collections, grasping on the one hand the training role that these activities have for the operator, and on the other the training, information and communication potential, by also assuming an important role on orientation and direction of studies. The collections both have an historical value, because they were acquired according to the history and evolution of the scientific disciplines, and a scientific value, because they are the objects of studies and researches, and, finally, a didactic-popularization value. These aspects make these museums unique, representing an interface between research and society, fulfilling the role of the so-called 'third mission'. The student will be able to take an active part in the peculiar historical-scientific-didactic-informative laboratory that the museum represents on the basis of its previous and acquired experience in the course, assisting the collection manager in the various activities to enhance existing exhibition paths, to build new ones, to improve communication and to promote activities to an ever wider audience. The relevant and crucial issues on the management of these museums will be addressed with regard to the financial resources necessary to catalog, protect, conserve and communicate the heritage contained therein, to implement display and use models appropriate to the value of the collections also on the basis of the potential that the new technologies offer, to promote and propose virtuous models not yet present at national level. Criticalities, perspectives and potentialities will therefore be highlighted to favor a critical and conscious vision of the student on this peculiar typology of museums, which are different from many others, and on the contribution that these can make to society.

Course contents

The course will take place in the form of seminars and guided visits to the Bolognese and non-Bolognese naturalistic museums. The visits will take place between April and June, and the calendar will be published towards the end of March.

Readings/Bibliography

There is no need for textbooks.

Teaching methods

The course includes a minimum part of lectures and didactic visits in the museums.

Assessment methods

At the end of the course the student will have to develop, in collaboration with one of the museum's realities of the Department or with other naturalistic museums, a project in the form of a written paper (term paper). The evaluation of this paper will be the final grade of the course.

Office hours

See the website of Marco Passamonti