Fondazione Scienza e Tecnica

Fondazione Scienza e Tecnica is a scientific and cultural institution based in Florence, Italy, at Via Giuseppe Giusti 29, where it operates the Museo della Fondazione Scienza e Tecnica. It was established in 1987 on the initiative of the Regione Toscana, the Provincia di Firenze and the Comune di Firenze, with the scientific support of the Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza (now Museo Galileo). Its founding purpose was to conserve, promote and disseminate scientific and technological culture by recovering and enhancing the historic scientific heritage of the Istituto Tecnico Toscano. The foundation holds in trust a large part of the materials collected by the Istituto Tecnico Toscano since its origins: more than fifty thousand items divided into natural history collections, scientific instruments, machine models, manufactured products and historic library holdings. Its museum comprises two main nuclei: the Gabinetto di Fisica, restored and open to visitors since 2007, and the Gabinetto di Storia Naturale, created by Professor Giacomo Trabucco, who directed it from 1890 to 1907 and is displayed only in part in the entrance corridor pending restoration of the rooms and the collection. The foundation's library gathers a substantial number of works representing Italian and European technical and scientific knowledge of the nineteenth century, documenting disciplines such as agronomy and silviculture, chemistry, physics and astronomy, mathematics, hydraulic mechanics, natural history, topography, construction, economics and statistics, for a total of about 30,000 volumes, pamphlets and periodicals. A planetarium, inaugurated in 2001 and managed in collaboration with the Museo Galileo and the Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory, is also part of its offer. The foundation is housed in a building constructed by the Comune di Firenze in 1891 in what was then via del Mandorlo (today Via Giuseppe Giusti 29) to accommodate the collections of the Istituto Tecnico Toscano previously located in the former Convent of the Cavalieresse di Malta in via San Gallo. The foundation occupies the right wing of the complex, about 2,500 square metres over five levels. Educational activities are central to the foundation's mission. It offers numerous didactic programmes designed to spark curiosity and bring the public closer to science, technology and natural sciences, with particular attention to the historical importance of scientific and technological development. Projects are demonstrative and held in multifunctional classrooms for schools and private individuals, with special attention to younger visitors, who may even celebrate their birthdays in the museum premises. Since 2016 the foundation has joined the WELCOME project together with eight other Florentine museums, organised by the Regione Toscana to improve services for museum visitors, especially those with disadvantaged needs; from this project came a video in Italian Sign Language (LIS) presenting the museum and its works.

The Fondazione Scienza e Tecnica was established in 1987 on the initiative of the Regione Toscana, the Provincia di Firenze and the Comune di Firenze, with the scientific support of the Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza (today Museo Galileo). Its mission was to conserve, promote and disseminate scientific and technological culture through the recovery and enhancement of the historic scientific heritage of the Istituto Tecnico Toscano. The Istituto Tecnico Toscano had gathered its collections since the nineteenth century. The building that now houses the foundation was constructed by the Comune di Firenze in 1891 in via del Mandorlo (today Via Giuseppe Giusti 29) to accommodate the institute's collections, which had previously been held in the former Convent of the Cavalieresse di Malta in via San Gallo. The foundation occupies the right wing of the complex, about 2,500 square metres over five levels. From its establishment, thanks to researchers and technicians serving in its bodies and to the cultural institutions with which it collaborates, the foundation has worked to make known and available a scientific heritage of very high value that had until then been almost unknown. It also organises activities aimed at promoting scientific dissemination. The foundation holds in trust a large part of the materials collected by the Istituto Tecnico Toscano since its origins: more than fifty thousand items divided into natural history collections, scientific instruments, machine models, manufactured products and historic library holdings. Its museum comprises two main nuclei: the Gabinetto di Fisica, restored and open to visitors since 2007, and the Gabinetto di Storia Naturale, created by Professor Giacomo Trabucco, who directed it from 1890 to 1907 and is displayed only in part in the entrance corridor, pending restoration of the rooms and the collection. The library gathers a substantial number of works representing Italian and European technical and scientific knowledge of the nineteenth century, documenting disciplines such as agronomy and silviculture, chemistry, physics and astronomy, mathematics, hydraulic mechanics, natural history, topography, construction, economics and statistics, for a total of about 30,000 volumes, pamphlets and periodicals. A planetarium was inaugurated in 2001 and is managed in collaboration with the Museo Galileo and the Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory. The foundation also offers numerous educational activities aimed at interesting and bringing the public closer to science, technology and natural sciences, with the historical importance of scientific and technological development as a central and priority theme. Projects are demonstrative and held in multifunctional classrooms for schools and private individuals, with particular attention to younger visitors, who may also celebrate their birthdays in the museum premises. Since 2016 the foundation, together with eight other Florentine museums (Museo Galileo, Museo di storia naturale dell'Università di Firenze, Museo Horne, Museo fiorentino di preistoria, Museo Marino Marini, Giardino di Archimede, Museo di Casa Buonarroti), has joined the WELCOME project organised by the Regione Toscana, aimed at improving services for museum visitors, with particular attention to the needs of disadvantaged audiences. From this project came a video in Italian Sign Language (LIS) presenting the museum and its works.

• 2016

  The foundation joins the WELCOME project with eight other Florentine museums, leading to a video in Italian Sign Language (LIS).

• 2007

  The Gabinetto di Fisica is restored and opened to visitors.

• 2001

  The planetarium is inaugurated, managed in collaboration with the Museo Galileo and the Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory.

• 1987

  Fondazione Scienza e Tecnica is established on the initiative of the Regione Toscana, Provincia di Firenze and Comune di Firenze, with scientific support from the Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza.

• 1891

  The Comune di Firenze constructs the building in via del Mandorlo (today Via Giuseppe Giusti 29) to house the collections of the Istituto Tecnico Toscano.

A public-interest scientific heritage institution and museum in Florence, dedicated to preserving and interpreting the historic scientific and technological collections of the Istituto Tecnico Toscano for education and public enjoyment.

• Museo della Fondazione Scienza e Tecnica

  Museum comprising the Gabinetto di Fisica and the Gabinetto di Storia Naturale, displaying historic scientific instruments, natural history collections and machine models.

• Gabinetto di Fisica

  Restored and open to visitors since 2007, it is one of the two main nuclei of the museum.

• Gabinetto di Storia Naturale

  Created by Professor Giacomo Trabucco, director from 1890 to 1907; displayed only in part in the entrance corridor pending restoration.

• Biblioteca

  Holds about 30,000 volumes, pamphlets and periodicals documenting nineteenth-century Italian and European technical and scientific knowledge.

• Planetario

  Inaugurated in 2001, managed with the Museo Galileo and the Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory.

1. 1Fondazione Scienza e Tecnica – Museo di Firenzefstfirenze.it
2. 2Fondazione Scienza e Tecnica – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Fondazione Scienza e Tecnica – Wikipedia (Italian)it.wikipedia.org