This event aims to celebrate the 150 years of Darwin’s Origin of Species. Located in the main building of the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, this exhibition aims to demonstrate Darwin’s expedition around the world.
The visit starts when we enter a “ship” (the one Darwin used to make his discoveries – the Beagle), and some explanations about the conceptions people had before Darwin’s discoveries. After that, we join a community of living piranhas, monkeys, suricats, and reptiles, such as an iguana (Dragon lizard), a turtle (African leopard-turtle), and an anaconda.
The exhibition continues, showing Darwin’s diaries, letters to friends in London, and observations throughout his five years’ trip, while we feel exotic stuffed animals staring at us during our visit.
Despite the pedagogical shape of it, I don’t think it is well designed for children and youngsters, due to its lack of interactive places. The only thing that kept my attention for more than a few minutes were the living animals, which were placed there to demonstrate Darwin’s vision when arriving in a new area of the globe. There is too much information written around the place, and little contact with the exhibition itself. In fact, I found it incredibly short; it only took me about 45 minutes, or so. But I must say that with a guide, it would surely be more appealing, and instructive.
However, the exhibition is interesting, and I am glad to know that Portugal is motivated to show everyone the scientific importance of the outside world.
Ana Catarina M. Mendes
The visit starts when we enter a “ship” (the one Darwin used to make his discoveries – the Beagle), and some explanations about the conceptions people had before Darwin’s discoveries. After that, we join a community of living piranhas, monkeys, suricats, and reptiles, such as an iguana (Dragon lizard), a turtle (African leopard-turtle), and an anaconda.
The exhibition continues, showing Darwin’s diaries, letters to friends in London, and observations throughout his five years’ trip, while we feel exotic stuffed animals staring at us during our visit.
Despite the pedagogical shape of it, I don’t think it is well designed for children and youngsters, due to its lack of interactive places. The only thing that kept my attention for more than a few minutes were the living animals, which were placed there to demonstrate Darwin’s vision when arriving in a new area of the globe. There is too much information written around the place, and little contact with the exhibition itself. In fact, I found it incredibly short; it only took me about 45 minutes, or so. But I must say that with a guide, it would surely be more appealing, and instructive.
However, the exhibition is interesting, and I am glad to know that Portugal is motivated to show everyone the scientific importance of the outside world.
Ana Catarina M. Mendes
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