The changing role of the University Museum: the example of the Science and Technology Museum (STM) of the University of Patras, Greece

This paper describes the changing role of the University Museum through a case study: the Science and Technology Museum of the University of Patras, Greece. The museum was founded in 2001 with the core goals to connect the University of Patras with society and the scientific and technological literacy of university students, schoolteachers and students and the society. From one hand the museum has gathered several existing collections in the University and became a repository of important scientific and technological material. From the other it experiments in different ways of what the museum should be, using collections as facilitators of engagement with university departments and students and society, especially educational institutions. STM strives to open the dialogue with different parts of the University and Society through activities and thematic networks. Thus, a multidirectional dialogue has been developed that offers new museum activities in the service of science, technology, and the arts.