Museion concept

Møde om “Innovative Museums of Science of the Future: a European Answer”

Her er materialet til Universeum-netværkets møde i Tartu, Estland, 1. – 3. juli. Vi kan jo fundere over om et par-tre stykker af os skal tage derovre … —— UNIVERSEUM Network Meeting, Tartu 1-3 July 2005: “Innovative Museums of Science of the Future, a European Answer”. The University of Tartu will do its best to […]

Her er materialet til Universeum-netværkets møde i Tartu, Estland, 1. – 3. juli. Vi kan jo fundere over om et par-tre stykker af os skal tage derovre …

——
UNIVERSEUM Network Meeting, Tartu 1-3 July 2005: “Innovative Museums of Science of the Future, a European Answer”.
The University of Tartu will do its best to make the Universeum meeting 2005 as engaging and fruitful as possible for the individual participants, and for the network as a whole – which is in a crucial moment of its existence.
Working session I: The Public(s) of University Museums: Innovative Approaches is devoted to the general theme. Marta C. Lourenço will discuss the present state of university museums in Europe. Two papers will follow from invited speakers, addressing the use of the collections by the two main user-groups/audiences:

• Paolo Brenni: collections as archival sources; the point of view from researchers and university students in the history of science in the broadest, European, Humanistic sense of the term;
• Christoph Meinel: innovative ways of contextualising different collections from different disciplines in order to reach more diversified audiences and at the same time promote university heritage, both tangible (e.g. natural history and instruments, objects and drawings, science and art) and intangible (e.g. academic freedom of research, traditions, etc).

Working Sessions II and III: Case-Studies & Project Reports provide a platform for members of the Network to present how (their) university museums can be innovative; in which way they have addressed difficult situations – whether in reorganisation, merging museums, exhibitions, collections, staff, etc – in innovative ways. The sessions also provide an opportunity for updating participants on the collaborative projects presented last year in Wittenberg or to present new projects.
Working Session IV and V: Future Paths for UNIVERSEUM is directly aimed at debating the future of the network. The discussion will be coordinated by Liba Taub. As an introduction to the debate, two successful networking experiences will be discussed:

• The advocacy document produced in 2004 by the UK University Museums Group (UMG) and its Scottish complementary document produced by University Museums in Scotland (UMiS) . Experiences of the UMG will be presented by Chair of the UMG Ms. Nichola Johnson.
• The Declaration on University Heritage by the Council of Europe (still at draft stage but in principle to be signed by ministers from the Council of Europe in 2005).

Hopefully, these two presentations will stimulate a fruitful discussion on the role Universeum can play in the context of European university museums and collections.
Practical information
The city of Tartu is situated in the southern part of Estonia and connects to the world primarily through Tallinn, Estonia’s capital city. The distance between Tallinn and Tartu is 200 kilometers, 2.5 hours by express bus. There is a frequent connection of regular buses between the two cities.
The organizers of the Meeting have booked accommodation at Leigo (25 kms from Tartu; hotels in the city and the region are full due to a great international festival held exactly at the time of our Meeting). The meetings will be in Tartu, transport will be provided. Accommodation prices (per night, incl. breakfast) are 35-50 EUR. Individual reservations are made through the organizers.
Program:
Thursday, June 30
Arrival of participants
Friday, July 1
Working session I: The Public(s) of University Museums: Innovative Approaches
(History Museum)
Opening addresses
Present state of university museums in Europe: Brief overview.
Marta C. Lourenço, University of Lisbon
The use of collections for research and teaching.
Paolo Brenni, Italian National Research Centre, Florence
Coffee break
The use of collections for the public understanding of science and/or research.
Christoph Meinel, University of Regensburg
Discussion
Visit of the History Museum
Lunch
Working Session II: Case-Studies & Project Reports
Papers by network members. Discussion
(6-8 case-studies & project reports 10 or 15 minutes each + 15 min discussion)
Deputy Mayor’s Reception at the Art Museum
Saturday, July 2
Working Session III: Case-Studies & Project Reports
Papers by network members. Discussion
(2-4 case-studies & project reports 10 or 15 minutes each + 15 min discussion)
Coffee break
Working Session IV: Future Paths for UNIVERSEUM
Chair: Liba Taub (University of Cambridge)
The advocacy document “University Museums in the United Kingdom. A National Resource for the 21st Century” and the UK networking experience
Nichola Johnson, Chair of the UK University Museums Group
The Council of Europe Declaration on University Heritage
Speaker to be confirmed
Discussion
Lunch
Working Session V: Future Paths for UNIVERSEUM
Chair: Liba Taub (University of Cambridge)
Dicussion
Dinner at Leigo
Sunday, July 3
Departure of participants
Contact:
Reet Mägi
Director
University History Museum, University of Tartu
Lossi 25
51003 Tartu
Estonia
Tel +372 7 375 675
Fax +372 7 375 679
reet.magi@ut.ee