Javier Armentia: director of the planetarium of Pamplona
Javier Armentia: director of the planetarium of Pamplona
There is much talk about the educational function of science museums, but do they often not give it all done? Are they for more entertainment?
Science museums are totally open, as they give answers, but the main goal is not that. The most important thing is that people come to these places and entertain themselves in them, that is, touch things, see something that catches their attention and discover surprising phenomena. This may be because there are things that cannot be found elsewhere. But that also has a second level or a step. If something catches your attention, you look better, you make your own hypothesis, you do your own reading; in addition, many times in the modules the historical environment of the discoveries is reflected, it is related to something everyday, others often have to be the stimulus of curiosity. That is the ability of museums to attract people, who are left wanting to know more. The things that happen in nature are given on a scale in which everyone can manipulate them, eliminating the sacred and theoretical burden of science, providing ways to satisfy critical spirit and curiosity. On the other hand, we must also influence the closeness of all this. I often say that the modules in science museums are everything one has always wanted to know about a subject, but we have never come to ask ourselves.
Why do they attach importance to scientific outreach?
I think it is also important to mention the transcendent part of science. In societies like ours, we have to decide what kind of states we need and what they should be based on. Many of the decisions that affect the future of States are scientific or science-related decisions, such as environmental problems: global warming, ozone layer, biodiversity, scientific issues, concerns and responses that come from science. Others, related to ethics and rights, cloning, assisted reproduction, biochemical research, these XX. They are the science of the twentieth century. We are talking about the Internet, telecommunications, licenses and the money that moves in this field, and all this based on science. I wonder many times: are we well informed? I may or may not have an opinion on these issues, but who informs me? Where can I get it from? are topics of first order for the society in which museums and others working in the dissemination can collaborate.
Despite this important point of view, science museums have a closer feature: the science we see in the media have not learned at school, for example, we have not learned anything about the ozone layer, while in science museums it is possible to publicize knowledge and renewed research. They are didactic, but at the same time they are presented in a very attractive format and enough to arouse curiosity. This updated knowledge can be reached through science museums in a pleasant and simple way. This update is important because science museums are not textbooks, they are something alive, they evolve and change.
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