The course aims to train experts able to work in museums and scientific-educational centres with particular reference to the scientific and zoological ones.
Course Prerequisites
No special prerequisites are required, however, it is advisable to have basic notions of systematic zoology
Teaching Methods
Lectures and visits to the museums of the Sistema Museale di Ateneo and in particular to the laboratories and collections of the Museum of Natural History of the University. An historical approach will be adopted to show how the exhibitions and the concept of museum have changed over the centuries. During the lessons some specimens will be shown which could be the subject of questions during the exam.
Assessment Methods
Oral examination. The oral test consists of an interview on the topics of the program, aimed at ascertaining the basic knowledge of museology, the techniques of preparation and exposition of the specimens and the activities of conservation, restoration and cataloging as well as on the history of the discipline.
Texts
Handouts, papers and lecture slides are available from the teacher.
Contents
The second part of the course will cover aspects of Museology and Museography, describing the activities and organization of modern scientific museums (research, conservation, communication), with particular reference to Zoological ones. The program include topics such as the definition of a museum, the mission of these structures, their identity, the current legislative framework, structure and function of permanent and temporary exhibitions, methodology and terminology of type specimens. Part of the course will be devoted to more practical aspects: acquisition and preparation of zoological specimens, cataloguing, and especially housing and maintenance of collections including restoration of damaged specimens. Finally there will be a short excursus on the peculiarities of some Italian scientific museums.
Course Language
Italian
More information
Inclusive teaching - For students eligible for the inclusive teaching program, the teacher ensures 2 hours of office hours per week at times to be agreed. They will also be provided with additional teaching material considered more effective for the exam preparation (e.g. video recordings of the lessons).
The oral exam will focus exclusively on the topics covered in the teaching material provided. The students will have to demonstrate to have acquired sufficient knowledge for the management of a naturalistic museum both through answering direct questions and by proposing solutions to ideal problems that are frequently encountered in museum management.
