The Institute and Museum of the History of Science (Florence, Italy)

[science_spot]

I wonder who you think of (in science) when I say Florence, Italy.  I imagine many of you will immediately think of Galileo Galilei, as he lived many years there.  With a visit to the website for the Institute and Museum of the History of Science (IMSS), one can see he still has a large influence on the scientific population there (and around the world).

....but this post is not about Galileo.  I am not sure I could post about him, for anything written, to truely describe his contribution to science, would have to be the length of a book!  He was an incredible man, with a brillant mind and determination.  All this aside, The IMSS is one fabulous place!  I would love to hear if anyone has visited it themselves, and has pictures to share.  For the rest of us, a web-tour will have to do (for now).

The Museum covers two floors of the Palazzo Castellani, with one floor of the Medici Collection and one of the Lorraine Collection. These collections cover five centuries of scientific history!  the picture below is from the IMSS website, and shows the Palazzo Castellani, as it would look if not surrounded by many other buildings in the heart of Florence.

On their website, you can check out their Multimedia center, including a chance to play with the interactive exhibits Galileo's Compass, Galileo's Telescope, and Galileo's Microscope.  These scientific tools are incredible to see in action!  But there is MORE.  MUCH MORE!!!  Check out their Thematic Catalog, which opens up to a list of specialties, which each open up to a list of sub-specialites, then objects of historical scientific interest.  I took particular interest in the Biology and Medicine section, but could easily spend days in here, looking deep into the past.  It is incredible how far scientific instrumentation has come, and I would love to see the look on Galileo's face if I could show him what a Scanning Electron Microscope, or the Hubble Space Telescope can do!! 

Can't get enough?  In addition to exploring their website, you can check out this extensive list of additional websites to browse for more scientific history!  If you are homeschoolig (or enhancing your child's education at home), this website could serve as a wonderful, unique study, showing not only how far science has come, but how scientists used to do so much, with tools so simple.

 

Tonya

AKA sunmoonstars

The Science Spot

 

 

 

 

[Liansmommie]

Sep. 11, 2009 at 2:57 PM

This is awesome for a person who just finished angels and demons. Thanks for the links!

[science_spot]

Sep. 11, 2009 at 3:44 PM

Oh I haven't read that yet, but it is on my list.  Hopefully before I see the movie!

(Original Poster)

[arthistmom]

Sep. 11, 2009 at 5:21 PM

I have to admit that in all the times I've been to Florence, I've never visited the Istituto, though I know exactly where it is--a stone's throw from the Uffizi, where you would find me. :) Thanks for reminder!

And speaking of Galileo, he's buried in Santa Croce, which is a five-minute walk from the Istituto (and some really awesome gelato).

[Liansmommie]

Sep. 12, 2009 at 2:23 AM

Oh, see the movie first so you can appreciate it. It was very well done but it skips a lot of story points that if you don't know going in you won't miss.