ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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I am responding to Victoria's post about the Harvard Museum of
Natural History. 
 
While the "parent" museums of the HMNH were established in the
19th century, the HMNH was established as the public face of
Harvard research and collections only 10 years ago.  In that time
working within the context of historic collections and displays
and an aging facility, we have nevertheless created several new
permanent exhibitons (the newest, Arthropods: Creatures that Rule
opened last fall) and numerous temporary exhibitions (for
example, the very popular Nests & Eggs) that showcase current
science in exciting and engaging ways.  We have also mounted
exhibitions of well known photographers that offer new ways of
looking at and understanding the natural world.  Take a look at
our website to get a sense of what we've done in just the past
couple years and the exhbitions and programs we're offering now.
 www.hmnh.harvard.edu,
 
It is certainly not our "method" or intention to maintain a
museum of a museum, inaccessible to the general public.  In fact,
far from refusing to change the exhibits, we are in the process
of a developing a long-term strategic plan for re-imagining the
older galleries in ways that highlight current science, showcase
Harvard's extraordinary specimens, reveal the ways in which
scientific thinking has evolved since the 19th century, and are
welcoming and accessible to a broad audience.
 
We have a long way to go, but I invite you to come visit and see
for yourselves how we are transforming the HMNH into at 21st
century museum.
 
Elisabeth Werby
Executive Director
Harvard Museum of Natural History 

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