200
The contents and form of presentation of the modules had to be deciding
issues if one wanted to achieve a modern museum capable of drawing the
public to its doors. It was not just a question of knowing what to communicate, but also of designing interactive devices to bring ideas to life. One then
had to design and build the exhibits, together with, of course, a building in
which to house them. In 1987 I put the challenge to Ignacio García de la
Rosa, and he accepted.
Adán, Ignacio, and I held endless meetings to mull over ideas and make
decisions on issues that cropped up. We chose a young but well-known architect, who designed the building in the form of a spacious street market with a
lot of stalls (the exhibit modules). Its layout in the form of a star stands out
among the classical buildings of La Laguna, especially when one flies over it
when coming in to land at Los Rodeos.
The Cabildo earmarked 60,000,000 pesetas (360,000 euros) for the contents, but the IAC had no means of hiring any staff and the Cabildo had no
staff suited to museum work. It was all a struggle. However, the situation
gradually improved, and the Institute made available its workshops and staff,
who worked extra hours without pay.
A signed agreement between the Tenerife Cabildo and the IAC now regulates the running of the Museum. The Cabildo as the owner manages the
museum, but the IAC appoints its director and provides scientific and technical orientation. An express condition of the agreement is the periodic change
of director to keep the museum moving with the times and avoid stagnation.
There have so far been five directors, each one of whom has introduced new
and fertile ideas. The Museum is today a point of reference for science museums in Spain, an added tourist attraction for the island, and a bastion of scientific culture.
Every opportunity is taken to popularize science and bring the IAC to the
public’s attention. I remember when in 1988 I was named a member of the
Expert Committee of Seville Expo ’92, which was being directed by Severo
Ochoa and chaired by Queen Sofía. The Committee’s function, they said, was
to make recommendations to the general superintendent of Expo ’92 concerning the organization, programming of activities, and exhibit contents. It
comprised personalities from the worlds of letters, arts, science, and economics. I found myself among such persons of great standing in finance as Paloma
O’Shea, Plácido Arango, Jesús de Polanco, Rafael Lapesa, and Iñigo de Oriol.
I put the opportunity to good use, and the IAC presented an outstanding
exhibit. We had modules in the Pavilion of the Canary Islands and the Pavilion
of the Future; there was also a large radio telescope with the IAC insignia
painted on the antenna bowl.
F. Sánchez
The contents and form of presentation of the modules had to be deciding
issues if one wanted to achieve a modern museum capable of drawing the
public to its doors. It was not just a question of knowing what to communicate, but also of designing interactive devices to bring ideas to life. One then
had to design and build the exhibits, together with, of course, a building in
which to house them. In 1987 I put the challenge to Ignacio García de la
Rosa, and he accepted.
Adán, Ignacio, and I held endless meetings to mull over ideas and make
decisions on issues that cropped up. We chose a young but well-known architect, who designed the building in the form of a spacious street market with a
lot of stalls (the exhibit modules). Its layout in the form of a star stands out
among the classical buildings of La Laguna, especially when one flies over it
when coming in to land at Los Rodeos.
The Cabildo earmarked 60,000,000 pesetas (360,000 euros) for the contents, but the IAC had no means of hiring any staff and the Cabildo had no
staff suited to museum work. It was all a struggle. However, the situation
gradually improved, and the Institute made available its workshops and staff,
who worked extra hours without pay.
A signed agreement between the Tenerife Cabildo and the IAC now regulates the running of the Museum. The Cabildo as the owner manages the
museum, but the IAC appoints its director and provides scientific and technical orientation. An express condition of the agreement is the periodic change
of director to keep the museum moving with the times and avoid stagnation.
There have so far been five directors, each one of whom has introduced new
and fertile ideas. The Museum is today a point of reference for science museums in Spain, an added tourist attraction for the island, and a bastion of scientific culture.
Every opportunity is taken to popularize science and bring the IAC to the
public’s attention. I remember when in 1988 I was named a member of the
Expert Committee of Seville Expo ’92, which was being directed by Severo
Ochoa and chaired by Queen Sofía. The Committee’s function, they said, was
to make recommendations to the general superintendent of Expo ’92 concerning the organization, programming of activities, and exhibit contents. It
comprised personalities from the worlds of letters, arts, science, and economics. I found myself among such persons of great standing in finance as Paloma
O’Shea, Plácido Arango, Jesús de Polanco, Rafael Lapesa, and Iñigo de Oriol.
I put the opportunity to good use, and the IAC presented an outstanding
exhibit. We had modules in the Pavilion of the Canary Islands and the Pavilion
of the Future; there was also a large radio telescope with the IAC insignia
painted on the antenna bowl.
F. Sánchez