Introduction
Founded in 1771, the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales is one of the earliest and most valued nautral sciences museums and research institutions in Europe. This is because of our scientific, historic, taxonomic and taxidermic research in the studies of zoology and geology. On top of this, we are one of the most crucial centres that make up the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) in regard to our study of life area, land, and medioambiental subarea.
The Museum opens its doors everyday thanks to our more than 300 investigators, technical staff, PhDs, educators and administrative staff. We work with a multidisciplinary and collaborative methodology in the geology, paleobiology, environmental biogeochemistry, and ecology and biodiversity departments. We strive to research and understand the complexity of natural process in order to provide more scientific knowledge that could help us to mitigate the climate crisis caused by human activity. Additionally, we aim to promote and communicate the knowledge that our teams have accumulated to the public. To ensure this, we have highly qualified professionals dedicated to the organisation of exhibitions and scientific outreach programs.
Our main wish is is that our visitors enjoy themselves and learn about the geology of the planet and the enormous biological diversity from the origin of life to today. We also want them to learn about the geomorphological and evolutionary processes that have shaped the landscapes and ecosystems in which we live, in order to awaken scientific vocations in the youngest and encourage respect and care for nature throughout society.
Welcome to one of the oldest natural history Museums in the world!
A Museum with more than...
300,000 annual visitors |
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11,000,000 specimens of collections |
1.5 million of euros in scientific projects |
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170 annual scientific proyects |
180,000 website views |
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17 laboratories and technical-scientific services |
Mission
Our mission is to promote natural science research. In this vein, since 1980, the Museum has functioned as a modern and competitive research centre within the CSIC infrastructure. Furthermore, we are descended from an extraordinary geological, paleontological and biological heritage. We are also responsible for ensuring its conservation and availability to the scientific community, as well as the growth of the largest natural history collections in Spain. As a Natural Science Museum, we are a permanent, society oriented institution. We aim to communicate scientific knowledge in an accesible way, educate, and promote the conservation of our enviroment for future generations.
Vision
The Museum is a research centre, and also an institution with some of the most important scientific collections in Spain. In accordance withthis, the main goals for the museum are: i) To promote excellent investigations and collaboration between partners and colleges, both within the museum, and in broader national and international relationships; ii) To promote scientific exchange (especially in the collections sphere), and iii) To make a bigger impact on society and educate the new generations with online and physical promotion of our activities, exhibitions, and scientific classes.
Functions
- As a museum: protect, curate, grow, and manage the collections, and facilitate their distribution for educational and scientific purposes
- Research: promote multidisciplinary investigation in the field of Natural Sciences. To ensure this, we use scientific projects with public and private financing in an open access model.
- Transference: advise to administrations, public institutions, public managers, enviromental managers, and private enterprises about scientific and enviromental themes (conservation, pollution, invasive species, natural hazards etc.).
- Communication: broadcast the scientific knowledge we have to the public, and raise awareness surrounding the climate crisis caused by human activitiy. Additionally, we wan't to lay out the path for how we can minimise the effects, and educate people to respect the natural heritage and to encourage new scientific vocations, especially among women.
- Education: attract the best postgraduate and post-doctoral students and researchers, and promote solid careers providing a strong base of research and learning.
Values
- Excellence in our research.
- Interdisciplinary scientific collaboration.
- Promotion and care of our collections.
- Respect for natural heritage and biological diversity.
- Social and scientific education.
- Public service.
- Ethical governance, transparency and equality (ESG).
- Professionality and quality service.