What does the scientists do in the museums?: Representations of the scientific practice in the exhibitions and activities in the museums

Abstract

This document aims to discuss whether "science in process" has some kind of representation in museums. Science museums have been promoted as suitable environments to teach science, promote literacy or scientific culture, and develop scientific vocations; But do they really show how science is done, what scientists do and how research institutions work?
Science museums and science centers, for the most part, favor the presentation of history (materialized in scientific instruments, almost all obsolete) or the results of science (scientific principles illustrated with interactive equipment). Very little reference is made to contemporary science, to the organization of scientific work and to everyday life in the laboratory. Even so, other types of scientific museums already include in their exhibitions some references to scientific practices. Such is the case of: palaeontology or archeology museums, which show images or 3D models of excavations; or the anthropology museums, which recognize the field work and how the objects were collected in their exhibitions.