Conservation and Enhancement of Scientific Instrumentation
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The goal of the course is to provide students with the basic knowledge related to the main aspects of the conservation and enhancement of scientific instruments: the history of different types of instruments, functionality, constituent materials, conservation issues, and their enhancement in museums or other contexts.
Expected learning outcomes
For the main types of scientific instruments: identification of categories; characterization of their functioning and use; historical relevance; knowledge of major conservation issues; knowledge of possible enhancement activities.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Teaching provided in alternate years, active in the academic year 2025-26
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The course will first focus on an introduction to the history and development of scientific instrumentation over the centuries, with particular reference to the role of instrumentation in the development of scientific thought and with some ideas on the role of scientific instrumentation in the more general course of human history, from ancient times to today. The course will then provide a general overview of the types of scientific instrumentation, their action (expansion of the senses, measurement, representation, recording, model, replication) and location (research institutions and universities, museums, schools, private collections, ...). It will then develop the elements of safeguarding and conservation: identification, recovery, inventory, cataloguing, acquisition, storage, notes on conservative and functional restoration, with attention to the peculiarities, critical issues and methodologies currently in use at national and international level. A section of the teaching will be dedicated to the various actions of valorization of scientific instrumentation, which include traditional and unconventional methodologies, and to their scientific and cultural framework, with attention to the contents and methodologies: scientific and popular publications of various types, museum exhibitions, shows, itineraries, scientific and public workshops, festivals, web, theatrical performances, videos and cinema. During the teaching, some case studies will be treated, with appropriate historical-scientific framework, of very well-known instruments and lesser-known instruments. Finally, a focus will be on the professions connected to the conservation, protection and valorization of scientific instrumentation. Visits to museums, collections and collections, and the possibility of meeting with various professionals in the sector are an integral part of the teaching.
Prerequisites for admission
There are no prerequisites.
Teaching methods
Frontal lessons in the classroom. At the end of the lessons a couple of optional visits to scientific museums are organized. Attendance at lessons is strongly recommended.
Teaching Resources
Slides shown during the lectures and other reference material are available on the MyAriel page of the course.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam is oral and consists of two parts:
1) three general questions on the topics presented in class; clarity of exposition, ability to summarize, correctness of historical information and scientific content will be assessed.
2) oral presentation, lasting 30 minutes, of an in-depth resource, agreed with the teacher, on a topic chosen by the student. A resource is defined as: a text, a catalog, an online collection, an audiovisual or scientific show. Delivery by email one week before the exam is required of a written presentation that includes a summary of the order of 300 characters including spaces, and a text between 2000 and 4000 characters including spaces, from which the salient features of the in-depth study can be deduced. Clarity of exposition and understanding of the main topics covered in the chosen topic will be assessed.
The grade is in thirtieths and the two parts of the exam contribute equally to the final grade.
1) three general questions on the topics presented in class; clarity of exposition, ability to summarize, correctness of historical information and scientific content will be assessed.
2) oral presentation, lasting 30 minutes, of an in-depth resource, agreed with the teacher, on a topic chosen by the student. A resource is defined as: a text, a catalog, an online collection, an audiovisual or scientific show. Delivery by email one week before the exam is required of a written presentation that includes a summary of the order of 300 characters including spaces, and a text between 2000 and 4000 characters including spaces, from which the salient features of the in-depth study can be deduced. Clarity of exposition and understanding of the main topics covered in the chosen topic will be assessed.
The grade is in thirtieths and the two parts of the exam contribute equally to the final grade.
Professor(s)