科學博物館的演進

The Evolution of Science Museums

二十世紀以來，科學博物館在世界各地快速成長，有的是傳統式博物館，以蒐藏為主，蒐藏品即為展示品，有的是現代科學中心的型態，參與式展示、教育活動是其特色，也有的是二者的綜合體。近年來，國人出國觀光頻繁，愈來愈多觀光客也將博物館列入參觀行程之中，國人對博物館從陌生、驚歎到熟悉、欣喜，進而有所期待，期待能更深入瞭解科學博物館。

According to literature, there have been five stages in the development of science museums. The ancestor of museums is the Cabinet of Curiosities in the seventeenth century of Europe. The collections of these cabinets were shown for the pleasure of close friends and important guests but had no public function. At second stage, science museums were derived from subject matter break­downs of cabinet collections. Their collections included the natural history specimens and instruments used in scientific research. Recently, there was a new development of the second stage science museums. Their exhibitions became more educational and began to involve visitors. Science museums were not originally founded to meet the practical needs of industry until third stage. The collections were used as teaching aids for training. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the third stage science museums gradually switched the training element of their function for that of mass education. The built-in, hands-on exhibits became more popular in these museums. Subsequently, the transmission of scientific concepts rather than the collection of objects were emphasized during the fourth stage of science museums (some of them called science center). Also, interactive ex­hibits have made these museums/centers more exciting. Science museums at fifth stage combined the best of the traditional science museums and modern science centers. They not only collected historical and modern artifacts, but also developed participatory exhibition to encourage learning. Traditionally, the main goal of science museums was the collection of objects in Taiwan. Most of them were classified as research institutes with no educational function. Since National Museum of Natural Science opened in 1985, science museums in Taiwan had a different vision. Museum audience became the major consideration in operating a museum. Science exhibition was also changed from hands-off to hands-on.