B2135 - MUSEOLOGIA SCIENTIFICA 2

Learning outcomes

The course is aimed at providing knowledge on the origin and historical evolution of museum collections starting from the birth of the great naturalistic museums up to their diffusion in the various countries, thanks to the work of the scientific societies and the role of the scientific expeditions. The students will know the organization of the museum collections of the University of Bologna, their variety (biological-naturalistic, paleontological) that contain the history of the various scientific institutes and disciplines, and their role and functions in the development of science. The students will know the conception and organization of the modern museum institutions, their current role and function (research, teaching, third mission), and the the current legislation in the field of cultural heritage. The students will also know the problems related to the management of the museum scientific collections. In this frame criticalities, perspectives and potentialities will be highlighted to foster a critical and conscious vision of the student on this peculiarity typology of museums underlining the still current value and function of the scientific museums in the context of research, conservation, communication and education. The course offers basic scientific knowledge to understand the concepts of the evolution and biodiversity, and the history of ecosystems changes, dealing also with the relationship between science and museums by deepening the contemporary debate relating to their function and their educational role in today's society. With this approach we intend to develop the theme of evolution and biodiversity and their representation in scientific museums through museum collections. Theoretical and research aspects will be addressed. Exploring the different museums, the students will define an objective and develop a proposal of their own for a project idea or innovate aspects they can identify for museum enhancement and communication. Emphasis will be placed on the valence of scientific vs. historical and artistic asset. Aspects related to the ethics of science, the custody, conservation and display of the sensitive collections, on the basis of current legislation, will be also provided. The course aims to highlight different methods, planning and educational paths of the different collections: the herbarium and of botanical garden of the Bolognese university, the zoological, comparative anatomy, paleontological and anthropological collections. At the end of the course the student is able to (a) understand the historical and historical-scientific value of the collections of scientific museums, (b) to propose and plan actions specific and targeted museum educational paths making the meaning of ""making"" a scientific museum their own, (c) and, by adapting and integrating previous and acquired knowledge, to promote scientific communication to participate in the process of continuous transformation that museums must have to respond to rapid changes in contemporary society. The student also (d) understands and knows nature and nature material characteristics of the finds of scientific museums, (e) is able to collect and catalog the finds by macro-categories and (f) it can propose actions aimed at improving its conservation status.

Course contents

Science in Museums 2 ideally aims to continue the approach of Science in Museums 1, that is, to address the theme of the relationship between science and museums to understand the different realities of science museums and their function and educational role in current society. With this approach we will develop the theme of evolution and biodiversity in the context of scientific museums through museum collections. We will address theoretical and research aspects, those of the direct experience of communication to be developed in the different museum realities, with which the student comes into contact and interacts. Taking inspiration from the design thinking model, we will explore the limits, critical issues and potential of the different museum realities. The student will be able to identify and define an objective and develop his own project idea to optimize and innovate aspects linked to the valorisation of the museum heritage and its communication, having present the repercussions on the user.

The course includes the presence of three teachers with different skills and who will deal with topics relating to the study, valorisation and management of the museum collections under their competence.

Valeria Franceschini (2 CFU: 1 lecture and 1 lab) - Museum Collections of Comparative Anatomy.

Topics: Comparative Anatomy Collections. Hands-on activities for setting up preparations, multimedia materials and/or videos for museum outreach and dissemination activities on the topic of evolution.

Marta Galloni (2 CFU: 1 lecture and 1 lab) - Botanical Garden and Herbarium

Topics: Botanical Garden and Herbarium. Hands-on activities to explain diversity, evolution and classification of plants. The herbarium and the scientific importance of exsiccata collections. The botanical garden and the current diversity of vascular plants, with special reference to angiosperms.
Fausto Tinti (2 CFU: 1 lecture and 1 lab) - Museum Collections of Zoology

Topics: Zoology Collections. Hands-on activities to learn molecular techniques (DNA extraction) and their use for phylogenetic reconstructions on museum specimens from Zoology collections.

Readings/Bibliography

Lecture Slides

Scientific papers

Laurajane Smith - Uses of Heritage. Routledge Tailor & Francis Group, London and New York, 2006

Teaching methods

Theoretical and practical activities.

Assessment methods

To verify the activities carried out, the student should produce a written paper on a topic related to a theoretical/practical museum experience of interest and agreed upon with the lecturers

Teaching tools

Video projector and PC.

Museum collections will be used for hands-on activities.

Office hours

See the website of Valeria Franceschini

See the website of Marta Galloni

See the website of Fausto Tinti