Behind the Museum Scenes: Naturalists and Scientific Collections

Behind the Museum Scenes: Naturalists and Scientific Collections

This lecture series focuses on the researchers who assembled the Museo Civico di Zoologia’s collections and on the scientific history preserved in its artefacts. Sessions cover biographies of notable naturalists, historical disciplines such as entomology and ornithology, and the development of the museum’s osteological and malacological holdings.

Who should attend: enthusiasts, students and professionals interested in natural history, conservation and collection management. Presentations combine scientific accuracy with clear explanations, illustrated with examples from the museum’s collections.

Program

• Thursday 26 March, 17:00 – Saverio Patrizi: from explorer to biospeleologist (Leonardo Latella)
• Thursday 2 April, 17:00 – A physicist-entomologist: Franco Rasetti (Roberto Casalini)
• Thursday 16 April, 17:00 – Francesco Chigi della Rovere: ornithologist and conservation pioneer (Spartaco Gippoliti)
• Thursday 23 April, 17:00 – Skeletons in the Museum: notes on the osteological collection (Fabio Pesci)
• Thursday 7 May, 17:00 – History of the malacological collection (Massimo Appolloni)
• Thursday 14 May, 17:00 – Paolo Luigioni: curator and pioneer of Roman entomology (Alberto Zilli)

Practical information

Dates: from 26 March to 14 May 2026 (weekly Thursday sessions).

Time: 17:00–18:30.

Venue: Sala Scheletri, Museo Civico di Zoologia, Via Ulisse Aldrovandi 18, Rome.

Admission: free until capacity is reached.

The museum serves as a hub for research and public education, preserving scientific collections that document animal diversity. This series contributes to the promotion of the museum’s historical-scientific heritage and fosters public engagement with its collections.