Museum of Natural Sciences: A journey of curiosity and knowledge

I am Pablo García, and if there is something that has marked my life since I can remember, it is my fascination for natural science museums. What are these temples of knowledge? They are not just buildings full of old stuff, no, nothing like that. They are authentic time capsules, which allow us to understand the earth we walk on, the beings with whom we share the planet and how we got to where we are today.

The first time I stepped foot in a natural science museum I was just a kid. My mother, always eager for me to learn more, took me to the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales de Madrid. An imposing building, full of stuffed animals, ancient rocks and bones of creatures that no longer exist. It was an instantaneous crush. Something inside me awoke: a passion for nature, for animals and for everything that has to do with evolution and the natural world.

Natural science museums are not all the same, but they do share a common purpose: science outreach. Each museum has its particularities. In Buenos Aires, for example, is the Bernardino Rivadavia Argentine Museum of Natural Sciences, founded in 1823, being one of the oldest in Latin America. This museum is an Argentine pride, a place where paleontology and the study of fossils have been an essential part of its educational offerings. Here you can see dinosaur remains, precious stones and much more. It's a real paradise for fossil lovers like me.

On the other hand, in Venezuela, the Museo de Ciencias has been part of the National Museums Foundation since 2005. This museum, located in Caracas, is a giant of anthropology, with an incredible collection of ancient human remains, such as the famous "tsantsa", a shrunken head that is part of the museum's initial donations.

The magic behind each exhibit

What I love most about natural science museums is their ability to transport you through time. Years after that first visit, I've toured other museums around the world, and they all have one thing in common: they tell you stories you couldn't hear anywhere else. And I'm not talking about simple stories, but tales that span millions of years. From the meteorites that impacted the Earth, to the slow and majestic process of mountain formation.

I have had the opportunity to visit the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales de Madrid on several occasions, and it is undoubtedly one of the references in Europe. Founded in 1771, this museum houses one of the largest collections in Europe in terms of fossils, mammals, birds and more. But not only that: its scientific collections are divided into areas such as zoology, geology, paleontology, and it even has a zoological sound library, where animal sounds are stored, a real wonder!

However, one of the aspects that I find most intriguing about natural science museums is the research. Many of these museums are not just exhibition sites, but true centers of scientific research. At the Argentine Museum of Natural Sciences, for example, there are areas dedicated to the study of botany, zoology and ecology, and not only that, the museum has published a scientific journal since 1864, making it an international reference.

The importance of education in natural science museums

Museums are also a learning center. The first time I saw a fossilized dinosaur, I felt a mixture of awe and respect. I remember thinking, "How was it possible that these giant beasts once walked the Earth?". The natural science museums answer those questions. Not only do they show you the remains, but they explain how those beings lived, how they became extinct and what they teach us about our future. Because, if there is something to learn from natural science, it is that life always evolves, and we are part of that process.

Best of all, these museums are not static. Their exhibits are constantly changing, reflecting new scientific discoveries. And this is where museums shine. Thanks to the research they conduct, we often witness spectacular finds: new species, fossils that shed light on early humans or discoveries about the impact of climate change.

Why should you visit a natural science museum?

It's easy to think that natural science museums are only for children or for people interested in science. But I'll tell you something: everyone should visit these museums. It doesn't matter if you are not a science lover or if you don't know anything about fossils. Natural science museums offer you a unique opportunity to disconnect from the present and understand the past. They allow you to appreciate how amazing life on Earth is, how fragile our ecosystem is and how important it is to take care of it.

Also, in this age of digital information, where we can look up anything on the Internet, nothing compares to the experience of seeing up close the remains of a prehistoric mammal, a moonstone or the bones of a dinosaur. It's something that marks you forever.

For those interested in climate change, biodiversity, or even extinct species, natural science museums are a window into those topics. There are exhibits dedicated to the study of the most vulnerable ecosystems on the planet and how humanity is negatively affecting these areas.

The future of natural science museums

We are living in a time when science is under attack. Climate denialism, conspiracy theories and lack of science education are serious problems. And this is where natural science museums play a key role. They are beacons of knowledge, places where scientific rigor is the norm, and where we can all learn.

For me, natural science museums are much more than a place to spend an afternoon. They are places for reflection, for learning, and for connecting with Earth's history. In a world where everything changes so fast, museums remind us that there are things bigger than us, processes that take millions of years to complete, and that we must learn to respect.

If you get the chance, visit one. You won't regret it.