Gems, Crystals ans Minerals

From December 19, 2023, the Natural History and Science Museum of the University of Porto hosts, in its Core Pole (Historical Building of the U.Porto, Cordoaria), the exhibition Gems, Crystals and Minerals. The opening will take place on December 18, 2023, at 18h00.

This exhibition contains many stories: stories of the teaching of Mineralogy, Palaeontology and Geology in the Polytechnic Academy of Porto (precursor to the University of Porto) from 1837 onwards, and in the Faculty of Sciences, after the University was founded in 1911. Stories of almost 200 years of acquiring gems, crystals, and minerals to support practical classes and research activities. Stories of the books and scientific instruments used, and of the doctoral theses and articles published by professors specialising in this area. Stories of the Mineralogy and Palaeontology Cabinet, described in the Minerals catalogue of 1894, but also of the Mineralogy and Geology Laboratory of the Faculty of Sciences (1911-1996), which incorporated a museological component in 1934. Stories of the minerals collected in fieldwork carried out by professors, students, researchers and alumni. And finally, stories of the private collections donated.

But more than stories from the past, this exhibition concerns itself with making evident the importance of Mineralogy and Geology for the understanding and resolving of the problems of our daily lives, as well as the challenges we face when building our future. The exhibition also makes clear a didactic concern, allowing us to marvel at the singularity and beauty of each sample on display, while understanding how these were described and systematised through scientific knowledge.