D.O.@.4 ish gery olorsneneny of the Scientific Instrument Commission Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 08 - 12 October 2012 Book of Abstractslar Scientific MUSEU DE v Instrument ASTI Commission - SIC 2012 XXXI Symposium of the Scientific Instrument Commission International Conference BOOK OF ABSTRACTS ‘Museum of Astronomy and Related Sciences 08-12 October 201246 THE ACQUISITION OF DIDACTIC COLLECTIONS FOR SCIENTIFIC EDUCATION DURING THE NINETEENTH CENTURY IN THE COLEGIO NACIONAL DE BUENOS AIRES M.G. Mayoni Colegio Nacional de Buenes Altes, Bolivar 263, Cludad Auténoma de Buenos Aires, (1066), Argentina ‘mgmayoni@gmail.com Keywords: didactic collections, secondary education, teaching sciences, material culture Abstract Didactic collections and the various documents associated with their acquisition that are preserved in the Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires provide insight into the various aspects of material culture, ideas, and proposals generated around the organization of science education in Argentina. This institution is cone of the oldest secondary schools in the country and important personalities were part of its history. The national school was created as a public institution in 1863 and incorporated to the Universidad de Buenos Aires in 1911. Between 1870 and 1920 the school acquired for the scientific departments important collections made by different makers from all over Europe. ‘The acquisition of these collections at the end of 19th century is related to the implementation of a specific educational system in Argentina. During a period of national construction and economic growth, public education was nationally encouraged, and this drive resulted in a quick expansion of educational institutions with the intent of unification and normalization of the educational process. Regarding teaching changes in science special attention was paid to European innovations in the second half of the 19th century. Universal expositions started to be organized in Europe and these became sources of ideas for the teaching field. French and German enterprises were our major providers. Economical possibilities in Argentina together with a determined idea on the government's part of supporting science resulted in subsidies for relevant acquisitions and generous investment in the field of science pedagogy, as reflected in the didactic collections of the Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires. Maria Gabriela Mayoni is conservator with degree in Studies in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage. Currently she makes part of the Conservation Group at the Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires, Argentina, working in an Integral Program of Educational Heritage Preservation, including researches, conservation and cultural management. Last year she carried away internships about Heritage in Spain working at the Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas and collaborated in the preservation program of the Veterinary Museum - Universidad Complutense de Madrid with IPCE (Instituto del Patrimonio Cultural de Espaia) in the scientific collection of anatomical models.