Ewa Wyka

(Dr. Ewa Wyka conducted research at the Bakken in September and early October, 2003)

The purpose of my research visit to the Bakken Library and Museum was twofold:

• To conduct a comparison study of scientific instruments, in order to date specific objects in the collection of scientific instruments in the Jagiellonian University Museum in Cracow, Poland;
  
• To study the interactive exhibits and educational programs at the Bakken Museum.

The first project consisted of bibliographic research in the trade catalogues, scientific sources, and museum catalogues in the Bakken library, and of comparative research of several instruments in the Bakken’s instrument collection. I had chosen 47 instruments from the Jagiellonion collection that were similar to objects in the Bakken’s, which included electrotherapy instruments, electrostatic machines, Leiden jars, batteries, and spectral and X-ray tubes. I found 22 analogies that helped me to date the instruments from the collection in the Jagiellonian University Museum.

In my research in the trade catalogues, I found the history of different firms, especially those that produced electrotherapy instruments and X- ray instruments, including such firms as G. Wohlmuth Co. and Reiniger, Gebbert und Schall A.G. In the field of museological practices it was very interesting for me to learn about the Bakken’s system of cataloguing the collections, and their preservation and conservation methods and practice.

The result of my researches in this area will be included in the book, Scientific instruments of the Jagiellonian University Museum - descriptive catalogue, now in preparation, with a publication date in 2005.

For the second project in my research visit, a study of the exhibits and education programs at the Bakken museum, I attended two field trips to observe the method of their work with school groups. The Jagiellonian museum is preparing an educational programme for school groups, so the experiments I watched at the Bakken will be included in our programme. I really appreciated receiving a set of materials to use for lessons on electricity, as well as a CD with the instructions. All these materials will be very helpful in arranging lessons on the same pattern in our museum. We will include the information that the Bakken is the author of the conception of the lessons and instructions. The materials I received from the Bakken staff will be used to complete our interactive exhibition Fun and Science, of which I am coauthor.

Dr. Ewa Wyka 
Curator of the Department of Scientific Instruments
Jagiellonian University Museum
Cracow, Jagiellonska 15
Poland 
Phone: +48 12 4220549
Fax: +48 12 4222734
E-mail: ewa@Maius.in.uj.edu.pl
Website: http://www.culture.pl/en/culture/artykuly/in_mu_collegium_maius_krakow