The Company / The MNCN presents the history of the National Museum of Natural Sciences, a book that reflects its long history

The book submission will be on November 30 at 12:30

It was prepared by the recently deceased paleontologist Emiliano Aguirre and former Minister of Science and Innovation Pedro Duque.

Tomorrow, Tuesday 30 November at 12:30 pm, the National Museum of Natural Sciences of Madrid (MNCN-CSIC) will present the history book of the National Museum of Natural Sciences. It is carried out around a research project, which is informative and aims to acquaint the public with the vast and fascinating history of the MNCN, one of the oldest scientific institutions in the world that has just turned 250 years old.

The work is centered around a narrative divided into eight chapters in which the most important events during the 250 years of the institution’s life are collected. In parallel with this text, other related stories are revealed in other stories. The book is presented by two characters related to science

Our country, Pedro Duque, Minister of Science and Innovation until July 2021, and Emiliano Aguirre, paleontologist and laureate of the Prince of Asturias, recently deceased.

More than 250 images, 130 colours, illustrating the story in 200 pages, about characters, archive panels, exhibition rooms, tokens, laboratories, embalming searches, pamphlets, etc. The book includes an appendix dedicated to the directors, places to facilitate reading in chronological order, and a short list of other works dedicated to specific periods in MNCN history.

years of research

The history of the National Museum of Natural Sciences dates back to many years of research. Although it is written in an informative style, it maintains the rigor of scholarly publications. “It can be read from beginning to end, with an unstructured reading or jumping from one short story to the next. Either way, it’s a great way to see what the National Museum of Natural Sciences has been, and still is, from its inception in 1771 until now”, commented Rafael Zardoya, MNCN Director.

The three authors, Carolina Martín Albaladejo, Andrés Galera Gómez and Soraya Peña de Camos Saez, are part of the Research Group in the History and Documentation of the Natural Sciences in Spain (MNCN-CSIC) and are well versed in the museum’s main areas: research, collections, exhibitions, and educational activities.

The work, published by Doce Calles Publishing and sponsored by the Society of Friends of the National Museum of Natural Sciences (SAM), will be presented November 30 at 12:30 p.m. on MNCN.

Ediciones Doce Calles An editorial for thirty years dedicated to the publication of reference books and the search for historical memory of the scientific and social heritage of Spain and Latin America.