Research and social impact of museum scientific collections

In the scientific museums of the University research and technological innovation open new paths for the study and preservation of the naturalistic and historical heritage they safeguard. Recent technological advances—such as high-resolution tomography, cutting-edge digitization tools, museomics, and taxonomy—enhance the role of different museum collections (anthropological, botanical, zoological, comparative anatomy, paleontological, mineralogical and related to marine sciences) as active research laboratories. Research topics expand into complex fields such as the geological history of the planet, evolution, biodiversity, and conservation. Issues such as biodiversity loss, the climate crisis and related environmental risks, and decolonization are addressed through scientific, educational, and outreach projects. Given the social impact that scientific collections can have, research aims to foster new narratives and make the dialogue between science and society more sustainable.