Dioramas in Natural History Museum—Tools for Nature Conservation

Abstract

The National Museum of Natural History, situated in the medieval city of Mdina, is by comparison to most national natural history museums elsewhere, small. This is both in its collections (c.a. 500,000 specimens) and in the space available for display purposes. Nevertheless, the restricted space does not impede new and innovative approaches to museum displays. The art of depicting nature behind a glass pane has long been a substantial element of museum displays. In 2004 the museum embarked on a series of educational oriented dioramas, highlighting Maltese habitats and the commoner species one is likely to encounter. The first set of eight dioramas was well received not only by the general public but also by teachers and children alike. With this positive feedback from our visitors, the museum is embarking on a series of micro-dioramas, the first of which will highlight “Life in the undergrowth”.