Universum (UNAM)
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Universum, el Museo de las Ciencias de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México | |
 Main entrance to the museum | |
 | |
| Location | Mexico City |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 19°18′41.06″N 99°10′50.39″W / 19.3114056°N 99.1806639°W |
| Director | José Franco |
| Website | Official website |
Universum (full name "Universum, el Museo de las Ciencias de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México", which translates to "Universum, the Science Museum of the National Autonomous University of Mexico") is Mexico's primary museum dedicated to promoting science and technology to the public and to support the university's science missions. It opened in 1992 at the Ciudad Universitaria in Mexico City. It has thirteen halls divided by theme dedicated to various permanent exhibitions. It has worked with outside public and private entities to develop both permanent and temporary exhibitions and has worked to develop other science museums in other areas of the country.
Opened in 1992, Universum is one of the first science museums of its type in Latin America .[1][2] It is located on a 10-hectare (25-acre) site in the south of the Ciudad Universitaria, an area that houses a number of the university's cultural institutions, which is also part of the Pedregal de San Ángel ecological reserve. Its facilities cover 25,000 m2 (270,000 sq ft) with 12,000 m2 (130,000 sq ft) dedicated to permanent exhibitions.[3][4] These permanent exhibitions are housed in thirteen main halls with various themes.[1][4]
Its mission is to contribute to the formation of a scientific and technological culture, and to an interest in science and technology by society in general.[3] For this reason, the exhibitions are designed to increase understanding by using simplified language and attractive presentations.[4] Another of the museum's functions is to archive and make available work done by UNAM's researchers at the facility's library and archives.[2]
During the institution's twenty years, it has received over 11 million visitors.[2] Universum has also worked to create extension museums in other parts of the country such as the Museo de Ciencia y Tecnología in Chiapas .[5]
Permanent exhibits
Permanent exhibits are housed in thirteen halls on three floors of the main complex. They include the José de la Herrán Planetarium, the Parákata Butterfly Exhibit, the Patli exhibit on medicinal plants, Biodiversity Hall, Mathematics Hall, Golem unit on artificial intelligence, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, The Brain, Chemistry in Everything, The Universe, Euclid’s Window, Our City, Evolution, Life and Time, Population, Health and Sexuality.[6] A number of its exhibits have been developed in collaboration with private and public entities. The Paráka Butterfly Exhibit is an area with live butterflies in an enclosure designed to imitate their natural habitat. It also works to breed butterflies native to the Valley of Mexico.[7] The Health section focuses on human health and its maintenance, with interactive displays, some of which provide personal information. The hall was sponsored by the Asociación Nacional de Productores de Refrescos y Aguas Carbonatadas.[8] The space exhibit has real Moon rocks which were donated to the institution by NASA.[2] The museum also has an artificial intelligence robot, called Golem, created for interaction with children. It was created by scientists in applied mathematics from UNAM to respond with information modified to the person who is interacting with it. It is the first robot designed to recognize children's voices speaking Spanish.[9]
