The Nature Park & Galleries, Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Visitors exploring the Plant Evolution Garden at NPG.

The Nature Park & Galleries (NPG; Hebrew: שדרות טבע וגלריות), is the “open-air campus museum” of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, located on the University’s Edmund J. Safra Science Campus in Jerusalem, Israel.

Overview

Established in 2003, NPG shares the University’s knowledge and ideas with the public. NPG began by interpreting for visitors objects and activities already present on campus. Later it commenced, and continues, implementing major permanent displays, as at most museums, mostly out of doors. Initially visitors were led by trained student guides, whereas now visitors guide themselves, using several interpretive formats. Originally a fee was charged for scheduled tours, now the museum is free and open all hours every day. Published research by NPG focuses on novel ways of enhancing visitor experiences in different types of destinations. NPG is a unit of the university’s Authority for Community and Youth[1] and carries out its own fund raising.[2][3]

History and operation

The Nature Park & Galleries opened to the public in August 2003.[2] As originally conceived, it operated a set of guided programs on approximately ten (later fifteen) different subjects. Each program, lasting about one hour, took place on the Edmund J. Safra Science Campus of the Hebrew University. These programs included walking tours, sit-down demonstrations, behind-the-scenes visits and workshops, each for a fee. The guides, mostly graduate students, were trained in guiding by a masters-level university course. Underlying these developments lay the concept that the Edmund J. Safra Campus (and no doubt many other university campuses) already was a museum – or almost. Collections available for NPG’s guided tours included the National Collections of Natural History,[4] the National Library of Israel, the Albert Einstein Archive,[5] the Magnes Press,[6] forefront research laboratories, the campus architecture, trees and gardens. All that was needed for turning this into a museum was a means of interpreting these and other campus features – that is, to tell their "stories" – for the public. The student tour guides provided that interpretation.

Beginning in 2013, NPG changed its approach to interpretation. No longer are student-guided programs offered. Rather, an array of means for self-guiding was developed, including brochures, guide books, smart-phone audio-guides, and permanent signage. NPG is now open to all, for free, at any time. According to NPG’s Founding Director, Professor Emeritus Jeff Camhi (Kimchi) of the university’s Life Sciences Institute, the switch from student guides to a self guiding framework brings the NPG experience in line with the most common way people visit museums around the world. This switch also offers greater financial sustainability, and exposure to a wider visiting public.[3][7]

NPG functions as a unit of the Hebrew University’s Authority for Community and Youth,[1] but carries out its own fund-raising.

Exhibits

NPG has implemented several permanent museum displays on the campus.[2][3][7][8]

A part of the Bird Migration Walk exhibition.
A part of the Ecology Boardwalk.

Publications

NPG publishes books interpreting the treasures of the Safra Campus:

NPG carries out research on how universities can enhance their outreach to the public, and how their guides can enhance visitor interest using new communicative skills:[7]

References

  1. 1 2 Authority for Community and Youth, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.
  2. 1 2 3 "Sea Horses from the Suez Canal settle off Hadera Coast". Judy Siegel. The Jerusalem Post, 2004-07-29
  3. 1 2 3 "A 'natural' way of learning". Judy Siegel-Itzkovich. The Jerusalem Post, 2003-10-12
  4. National Collections of Natural History, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.
  5. Albert Einstein Archive.
  6. Magnes Press.
  7. 1 2 3 "Campus Capers". Erika Snyder, The Jerusalem Post, 2007-02-09
  8. "A 3000 Years Old Sequoia Trunk in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Museum". Yuval Dror, HaAretz, 2003-10-21 (Hebrew)

External links

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