Scientific museums and its scientific heritage role in developing cultural and Artistic Awareness Case study: Dr. Naguib Mahfouz Ob/Gyn Teratology and Pathology Museum

Abstract

The Studies related to history of sciences, museums and heritage sites have not yet been properly studied in Egypt, despite their great importance in preserving heritage and creating the bonds of understanding and awareness between science and community, as well as creating the interrelationship between the society and its scientific outputs, which are presented by scientific museums, research or scientific institutes. This type of studies is very important, and requires scientific experienced professionals in each of the relevant science as well as civilizational and historical field of studies in addition to museum studies. The importance of creating this awareness of scientific museums role and activating it for the dissemination of knowledge and awareness, is not limited to scientists and specialists. In this sense comes the importance of this research paper which falls under the theme of "Identity, Heritage and Culture towards a New Direction" Within the seventh topic of the conference, which means to know "the achievements of knowledge and scientific outcomes and its role in the development of civilized societies"Scientific museums are playing an essential role in the interaction between science and art. Through a unique model of one of the scientific museums in Egypt, the Museum of Genomic and Oncology, at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Kasr Al Aini hospital in Cairo. Its story began nearly 90 years ago, when the famous gynecologist Najib Pasha Mahfouz collected 1300 rare and mysterious cases of obstetrics and gynecology, and decided to include them in other collections, the museum founded and opened in 1929, to be a reference for students and researchers. It is the largest and the first medical museum of its kind in the Middle East. There are only two museums in the world similar to our museum, one in England and the other in the Netherlands. They include rare samples in different specialties, not just gynecology. Such museums help researchers in communicating with the surrounding environment and the society is closely related then its role is not limited to serve researchers and specialists only.

Keywords

• medical museums; scientific heritage; science communication; gynecology; deformations