Post on 13-Jun-2020
SCIENCE COMMUNICATION: THE GHENT
UNIVERSITY MUSEUM AS A CASE
STUDY
Dr. Marjan Doom (18/03/2017)
GENTS UNIVERSITEITSMUSEUM
KERNGROEP CONCEPTONTWIKKELING
CONTEXT
2
Ghent; 643.393
Leuven; 105.754
Antwerp; 32.092 Brussels; 1.559
Known number of Cultural heritage
objects in 4 Flemish universities
1"Balans en perspectief. Academisch erfgoed in Vlaanderen." Interuniversitair Platform voor
Academisch Erfgoed, 2013
Campus Ledeganck
Complex Ledeganck
Science Centre Nemo, Amsterdam
Science Centre Nemo, Amsterdam
TARGET AUDIENCE
Secondary school students (focus on final grades)
Academic community
“Broad Public” fascinated by science and culture
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MISSION AND VISION
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• Science is a human activity
• Practising science means ‘Dare to Think’
• Science is a dynamic concept
MUSEUM OF THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY
“Visitors are no longer approached as empty vessels to be
filled with didactic content…” (Graham Black)
“The museum is gradually becoming a unique platform of
human encounters” (Chris Dercon)
“The museum’s role is not to proclaim but to listen, interpret,
incorporate ideas and adjust” (Charles Leadbeater)
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CONTENT: FRAMEWORK
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CHAOS Patterns & Classification
DOUBT Observation & Interpretation
REPRESENTATION Modelling
TRUTH Measuring & Collecting of data
IMMAGINATION Immagination & Invention
KNOWLEDGE Pluralism in science
NETWORK Science & Community
BOUNDARIES and LIMITS Boundaries and Limits in science
Scie
nce
is a
hum
an a
ctiv
ity
Scie
nce
implie
s“O
ut o
f the
Box“ th
inkin
g
Scie
nce
is a
dyna
mic
co
nce
pt
SCENOGRAPHIC LAYERS
1Introfilm(s)
Setting the mood
And
Inciting the
imagination
2Big Questions
Science
Philosophical layer
initiated by the
selection of key
objects
3Cabinets and LAB
Exploration
And
In-depth research
FRAMEWORK: CONTENT
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CHAOS Patterns & Classification
DOUBT Observation & Interpretation
REPRESENTATION Modelling
TRUTH Measuring & Collecting of data
IMMAGINATION Immagination & Invention
KNOWLEDGE Pluralism in science
NETWORK Science & Community
BOUNDARIES and LIMITS Boundaries and Limits in science
FRAMEWORK: KEYWORDS
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CHAOS Patterns & Classification
DOUBT Observation & Interpretation
REPRESENTATION Modelling
TRUTH Measuring & Collecting of data
IMMAGINATION Immagination & Invention
KNOWLEDGE Pluralism in science
NETWORK Science & Community
BOUNDARIES and LIMITS Boundaries and Limits in science
FRAMEWORK: KEY OBJECTS
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CHAOS Patterns & Classification
DOUBT Observation & Interpretation
REPRESENTATION Modelling
TRUTH Measuring & Collecting of data
IMMAGINATION Immagination & Invention
KNOWLEDGE Pluralism in science
NETWORK Science & Community
BOUNDARIES and LIMITS Boundaries and Limits in science
FRAMEWORK: BIG QUESTIONS
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CHAOS Does science bring order into reality? / Are classification systems
fixed?...
DOUBT Is it always true what we see? / Can we study something we can’t
see?…
REPRESENTATION Does the model capture reality? / Can science mimic nature? …
TRUTH Can we measure anything? What is the difference between
measuring and knowing?...
IMMAGINATION Does a scientist need imagination? Can you be creative and
objective at the same time?...
KNOWLEDGE Is science the sole source of knowledge? / Can different answers to
the same question be true? …
NETWORK Can you practise science alone? / Do we know more now then in the
past? …
BOUNDARIES and LIMITS Should science know boundaries and limits? Can we know
everything?...
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CONCEPT
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Cabinets
‒ Scale and diversity of the academic collections
‒ Invite to explore and indulge in the themes
CABINETS
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CONCEPT
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LAB
‒ Stimulate interaction
‒ Dynamics
‒ Participation
‒ Public programme
LAB
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BIG QUESTIONS
Key Objects & Main narrative
CHAOS
Patterns & Classification
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BOUNDARIES AND LIMITS
Boundaries & Limits in science
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CABINETS
Large amount of objects & exploration
DOUBT
observation & interpretation
DOUBT: THE STUDY OF WHAT HAS DISAPPEARED
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TO CONCLUDE
An exhibition can be a unique language to share a
narrative on science and scientific thinking
Museum is a platform for encounter and participation
Juxtaposition
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THANK YOU
External Partner: Handelsreizigers in Ideeën (http://handelsreizigers.be/)
Photography: Benn Deceuninck, Geert Roels, Bart De Pauw,
Hilde Christiaens and Koen Bovée