後進社會中的自然與社會科學博物館──STS及大學博物館的機會、挑戰與責任

Natural and Social Sciences Museum in Later Developed Societies: STS and University Museums' Chance, Challenge, and Responsibility

在後進社會中，即便曾有長時間研究自然與採集的歷史，但是現代自然科學與社會科學都從西方引進，發展時間相對較短。即使他們可能觀察自然或從自然界蒐集標本都已有很長的歷史，他們自己的自然科學或社會科學活動的歷史仍是較短的。這表示由於缺乏豐富的儀器、樣品、結果與相關科學活動的研究者，而對於形成一個有關當地科學研究的博物館是比較不利的。在後進社會中，要蒐集適當且充足的物件、研究當地與全球相關科學發展與歷史、與政府重視並受歡迎的科學中心區隔等，都是這類博物館的挑戰。本文論述大學博物館是一個適合面對這些挑戰、且在後進社會中成為自然與社會科學博物館的好地方。這也是大學博物館對所屬大學、學術社群、及所在社會的責任。

In later developed societies, both natural and social sciences were introduced from Western countries and, therefore, have a relative short history. Even though they might have a long history of observing nature or collection of samples from the nature, the history of their own natural and social science activities is short. That suggests a disadvantage of forming a sound museum of local science studies due to the lack of rich instruments, samples, results, and researchers in these scientific activities. Collecting appropriate and enough artifacts, studying local and global related science development and history, and distinguishing itself from a science center which is very popular and important from government's point of view in later developed societies, all become challenges to such kind of museums. It is argued that a university museum would be a good place to face these challenges and become the chance of natural and social science museum in later developed societies. This is also a university museum's responsibility to its university, academic community, and the society it belonged to.