Speaker
Description
In the spring of 2027, the Museum of Electrical Technology in Pavia will celebrate its 20th anniversary. Its collection, originating from the University of Pavia and from donations by Italian companies such as Enel, Sirti, Eni, and others, spans the history of electricity from electrostatics to electronics, from the Leyden jar to personal computers, through a wide range of electrical instruments, motors, machines and other devices.
The Museum serves a dual purpose. On the one hand, it fulfills the traditional role of preserving historical artifacts, typical of classical history museums; on the other hand, it offers visitors the opportunity to observe and understand the operation of many of these objects, as is common in science museums.
The Museum’s combined historical and scientific approach makes it particularly well suited for educational visits by secondary school and university students, while also providing interactive activities for younger audiences.
The exhibition is arranged chronologically and divided into five sections, within which a coherent and comprehensive historical and educational pathway can be identified. The pathway is modular so it can be experienced also in single, self-contained sections.
This presentation aims to introduce that pathway by providing a theoretical framework, discussing the technical challenges that emerged over time, and illustrating the solutions adopted for their practical implementation. The presentation aims to highlight the Museum’s potential, already established in the fields of electrical engineering and the history of technology, in the field of the history of physics as well.