The new Science Museum in Trento, called MUSE, aims to actively involve visitors through innovative themes and exhibitions. With a surface area of 19,000 square meters, the MUSE stimulates visitors' curiosity about nature and environmental changes. Scheduled to open in July 2013, the MUSE will offer experiences for families and younger generations to learn while having fun. The MUSE interprets the spirit of Trentino region by viewing nature and innovation as partners in responsible development.

1. The new
Science Museum
in Trento

2. Active these are the key words
to define MUSE - The
map that aims at actively
involving its visitors with
attractive
Science Museum, a new innovative themes and
destination on Trento’s exhibitions.
memorable

3. The project The MUSE is a public
institution of the
Autonomous Province
di Scienze Naturali, the
MUSE is the fulcrum
of the redevelopment
the MUSE stimulates in
its visitors the thirst for
knowledge about the
of Trento that conducts project, entrusted to the natural world, stressing
intensive scientific famous architect Renzo the urgency of focusing
research on mountain Piano, situated on an on the relationship
environments. abandoned industrial between mankind and
By inheriting the ultra- area. Nature and the changes
centennial legacy of With a surface area of man has brought to the
the Museo Tridentino 19,000 square metres, environment.

4. The Architecture The building itself is
a perfect example of
integration between
The exhibit spaces
are highly immersive,
abounding in “special
of Nature architectural design
and exhibition
function, with its
effects” that inspire in
the visitor the same
emotions felt by Alpine
large, almost vertically mountaineers as they
sloping sides that climb steep rock faces
are an immediate or by downhill skiers as
reminder of the Alpine they hurtle down snow-
scenery. bound crevasses.

5. The visiting The key to
comprehending this
fascinating concept
July 2013, the MUSE will
offer a lively experience
designed with younger
attractiveness, the
museum is naturally
dedicated, together
experience lies in the clear and
straightforward language
and in innovative
generations and families
in mind. It will be a place
where fun and learning
with the MART and
with Castello del
Buonconsiglio, to acting
exhibitions capable of walk hand-in-hand as a catalyst for Trentino,
transforming a dull visit with the pleasure of a region that boasts an
to a museum into a rich discovering surprising intense cultural vocation
and enjoyable “voyage of and unexpected facts and is highly worthy of
discovery”. about our world. being visited all year
Scheduled to open in Thanks to its great round.

6. Contents The visitor’s journey
through the exhibition
areas is especially
the Alps, the museum
hosts the largest display
of dinosaurs in the
microscope. Smaller
children especially
will enjoy the story-
focused on the Alpine Alpine area. Many other telling corners where
environment, on exceptional prehistoric natural history takes
Trentino’s multi-faceted exhibits include artefacts on a thousand shapes,
natural landscape, and made by Neanderthal including small furry
on the techniques and Man, the first painted animals they can hold in
the results of scientific rocks and the flint their hands.
research as told by the weapons used by the The end of the Alpine
very researchers who prehistoric hunters nature itinerary climaxes
are currently involved in of the Ice Age. In the in the large greenhouse
this fascinating activity. various galleries, visitors with live plants that
Starting with the many can touch fossils and reproduces a tropical
dinosaur footprint minerals and observe forest mountain
tracks discovered in specimens under a environment in Tanzania.

7. The pleasure At the MUSE, it is
possible to make and
invent every day, with
Fab Lab, opens its doors
to young professionals
or enthusiasts in
presentation of science
and technology through
the implementation of
of knowledge eyes set on the future,
under the attentive
and curious gaze of
order to give them the
chance to implement
their scientific and
a hands-on experience
that offers scientific
experiments in the form
the visitors. A personal technological ideas. of installations visitors
digital fabrication Great care and attention can actively interact
laboratory, known as the is also paid to the with.

8. Future and nature The museum interprets
the spirit of Trentino, a
region that has actively
making concerning
development.
This “partnership”
with the consulting
assistance of the
Natural History Museum
a marvellous couple searched for a model of
development in which
quality of life and quality
between Nature and
innovation is not only
at the basis of the story
of London, has enjoyed
the cooperation of
Trentino’s university and
of the environment are told by the museum research foundations.
perceived as a whole, but is also the vision of Another important
and where scientific the future held by the role is played by the
and technological Autonomous Province museum’s currently
knowledge is of Trento. The museum’s ongoing relations with
considered the key project, conducted by other major Italian and
tool to the sharing and the MUSE’s staff and by European research
correct orientation that of the Renzo Piano centres and science
of local decision- Building Workshop museums.

9. The Network
Satellite Sites and Centres

10. The To be acknowledged as being a centre
of excellence in natural sciences and
environmental research
to be a workshop and show-room of local
scientific research and technological
innovation
strategic to operate together with the Trentino to contribute, together with Castello
objectives
scientific research system and with del Buonconsiglio, the MART and other
international scientific research networks museums in the Trento province, to in the
and museums, participating in the creation of a high quality cultural hub
creation of a highly qualified scientific
research district to represent an important venue that
is capable, in synergy with the tourist
to coordinate a network of local promotion operators, to develop tourism-
institutions for the enhancement and oriented projects and initiatives
safeguarding of the region
to become a catalyst of cultural events
to promote public participation in the in the new city district and to boost the
debate on scientific issues onset of private initiatives connected to
the museum’s activities.

11. The mission To create awareness about our world’s
natural heritage and about the ethical
commitment to conserve nature and the
to illustrate the connection between
science and technology and the ethical
commitment for contemporary society
environment
to guide visitors towards scientific
to highlight the relationship between local knowledge as a forma mentis and as a
and global, starting from environmental possible profession
factors
to guide and stimulate towards the
to favour an informal, playful, interactive, technical and scientific curricula and
participated hands-on approach to towards a vision of the European
science and its technological applications Community as a unitary reservoir of
knowledge, growth and sociability.
to create awareness about the effects of our
technical and scientific culture and about its
importance for contemporary society

12. The Museum today
Based on civic 19th to public institutions importance. Together
century collections, and is a member of the with its local branches,
the museum became a European scientific it offers over 650 cultural
functional body of the research network. The events that are attended
Autonomous Province of educational sector, by a total of about
Trento in 1964 with the operational in all of its 37,000 people annually.
name Museo Tridentino branches, each year The communication of
di Scienze Naturali. engages about 60% of these events each year
In 2011, on the occasion the province’s school- is performed by over
of its change in location going population, with 270 press releases and
and mission, it was significant numbers generates over 1,500
renamed Museo delle also coming from reviews on the local and
Scienze (Science adjacent regions (in the national media.
Museum) - MUSE. academic year 2011- For years acclaimed
It has a full-time staff 2012 it hosted 53,000 by the national and
of 120 people. students). international community
The scientific The museum’s for the creativity of
research and cultural educational and its initiatives, the
interpretation sector academic researchers museum today is a
employs about 50 staff also participate in member of the network
members assigned European projects, of professionals
to the biodiversity, where they experiment comprising ICOM Italia,
geology, paleontology new forms of learning. ECSITE, ANMS, ASTL,
and landscape sectors. The activities and GBC Italy, DTTN, and
It publishes on its own new languages sector participates in the
science magazines and generates 13 exhibitions programmes funded by
in qualified international a year, several of the EU and by LIFE.
magazines, offers its which are of national
consulting services and international *Data: October 2012

13. Museo delle Scienze
www.muse.it