2nd scientific conference from the series

Museum – Forms and Tools of Presentation

Technology and Science in the Museum

Leon Wyczółkowski District Museum in Bydgoszcz

September 9 – 11, 2013

The Leon Wyczółkowski District Museum in Bydgoszcz invites to the second scientific conference from the series Museum – Forms and Tools of Presentation – dedicated to museum issues related to showing the actual types of collections and accompanying activities. The conference entitled Technology and Science in the Museum. Forms and Tools of Presentation is directed primarily to museum communities involved in presentation of subjects related to exhibiting, publishing and education, as well as academic communities with programs related to museum studies (institutes of history, historic heritage, preservation of historic sites and cultural studies). The conference will be organized under the auspices of the Polish National Committee - International Council of Museums. The main purpose of the conference is an attempt to answer the following question: How and with the use of what tools shall we present in museums subjects related to technology and science and to make available industrial heritage? Within presented speeches, messages, poster displays and discussion panels, we want to focus a special attention on the following eight topics: 1. Methodology and methods for development of collections as well as technology and science exhibitions

2. New exhibition technologies and solutions; Science center and interaction – as special places and forms for presentation of scientific-technical heritage 3. Problems related to preservation of industrial heritage; Original, copy, replica, reconstruction – problems related to the range of activities undertaken 4. Scope and forms of technical and scientific education; Scientific and popular science publications discussing industrial issues 5. Revitalization and adaptation of postindustrial buildings for exhibition purposes; Contemporary museum architecture 6. Good practice – examples of technical and scientific exhibitions

7. Industrial tourism – prospects for development and threats; Management of industrial heritage 8. Financing and promotion of industrial heritage

Those interested in participation in the conference Technology and Science in the Museum. Forms and Tools of Presentation will be required to send to the organizers until April 30, 2013, the title and abstract of speech (according to the enclosed form) to the following e-mail konferencja@muzeum.bydgoszcz.pl. The organizers reserve the right to select speeches, which will be included in the program of conference. Plans include printing of the speeches given. Participation in conference is free of charge for lecturers. The organizers also provide accommodation, food and conference materials to lecturers.

The time of lecture cannot exceed 20 minutes During the conference, within the above mentioned topics, we will try to answer the following problem groups: 1. Methodology and methods for development of collections as well as technology and science exhibitions

● Collecting “contemporary” objects of material culture in museums. Should computers, cellphones or MP3s be part of museum collections and be presented at exhibitions? ● Storage and display of large-size, postindustrial machines, vehicles and equipment – needs and threats.

● Exhibition models – traditional exposition of technology based on artifacts versus experimentatorium focused on experience and interaction.

● Methods of presentation of industrial heritage objects in the museum. What needs to be done to make visitors satisfied after their trip to the museum and encourage repeat visits? 2. New exhibition technologies and solutions; Science center and interaction – as special places and forms for presentation scientific-technical heritage ● Presentation of industrial heritage with the use of new technologies – possibilities and problems. How to present steam engine operation or experience a ride by a historical carriage? How to present technologies and chemical processes? How to offer to museum visitors the smell and sounds coming from, for example, a mine or engine house? ● Application of virtual reality and expanded reality technologies in contemporary art of arranging exhibitions.

● Science center as a new model for scientific-technical exhibiting – new possibilities, new threats.

3. Problems related to preservation of industrial heritage; Original, copy, replica, reconstruction – problems related to the range of activities undertaken ● Problems related to the use of museum exhibits in the context of legislation of Poland. Is touching and using of historical exhibits allowed? For instance, activation of printing press, historical vehicle or locomotive, when legislation of Poland orders museums to store exhibits intact? Maybe it is necessary to implement changes in this legislation regarding technical heritage? ● How to maintain and store large-size museum exhibits?

● The range of using copies, replicas and reconstruction. What can we call a copy? Does replacement of a historical engine component deprive this vehicle of its original value? How to implement an element of interaction between the visitor and a historical object? Is it worth it to make a copy or replica for a visitor in order that he learns the value of an object, especially those nonexistent ones?

4. Scope and forms of technical and scientific education; Scientific and popular science publications discussing industrial issues ● Museum education – forms, challenges and problems. How to interest wide audiences with technical and scientific topics? What methods and educational aids shall be used to encourage audiences to actively participate in museum activities? ● The use of e-learning in today’s museum education.

● Forms of scientific and popular science publications discussing industrial issues – good practice. 5. Revitalization and adaptation of postindustrial buildings for exhibition purposes; Contemporary museum architecture ● What interiors should be used to present technical-scientific exhibitions and postindustrial heritage? Should we use, through revitalization and adaptation, postindustrial buildings or dedicate to them new spaces? Each of the mentioned solutions has its advantages and disadvantages. Revitalization of existing spaces frequently develops neglected parts of the city and gives to an exhibition a postindustrial context, carrying some contents on its own. On the other hand, new premises provide an opportunity for proper adjustment of museum spaces to the actual needs of a given institution. We want to present and compare both models of solutions based on selected examples.

6. Good practice – examples of technical and scientific exhibitions

● Every year, interesting, modern and aesthetically sophisticated technical and scientific exhibitions are being opened, and presentations of industrial heritage become increasingly popular as well. We want to present the most interesting of them, showing also some concepts of exhibitions which are only in the stage of design or implementation. 7. Industrial tourism – prospects for development and threats; Management of industrial heritage ● Industrial tourism in Europe – good practice. ● Principles for making available historic parts of active workplaces and presentation of production processes.

● Models for management of industrial heritage and selection of a proper form of organizer’s functioning.

● Technical heritage trails as a model for management of industrial heritage – good practice.

● Formula of public-private partnership – possibilities and problems. 8. Financing and promotion of industrial heritage

● Mechanisms available for financing projects related to revitalization of postindustrial heritage and its exposition.

● Promotion of industrial heritage. Using limited funds (available to museums), how to reach the most demanding audiences and “break through” with information about industrial heritage in media space, dominated by pictorial language?

All those interested in participation in the conference should contact Mr. Maciej Czechowski from the Department of Education and Promotion of the Leon Wyczółkowski District Museum in Bydgoszcz, phone no. 52 58 59 927; e-mail: konferencja@muzeum.bydgoszcz.pl or maciej.czechowski@muzeum.bydgoszcz.pl. Michał F. Woźniak, PhD Director of the Leon Wyczółkowski District Museum in Bydgoszcz

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