The Museum of Natural History as a space for the conservation and recognition of the cultural heritage of the Universidad del Cauca

Abstract

The Museum of Natural History (MHN) of the Universidad del Cauca, in its purpose of promoting the knowledge of biodiversity and the recognition of biocultural heritage at regional and national level, carries out activities aimed at various audiences: academics, tourists, scientists and the community in general. In this way, it becomes a space for heritage conservation and an attraction within the tourist offer of the city of Popayán. Recognizing this role of the MHN, and considering that the number of visitors in seasons such as Easter Week reaches more than 2000 people, including adults and children, nationals and foreigners, it is important to consider its management as a tourist attraction and incorporate it into a tourist route, as part of a strategy of social appropriation of knowledge. This route intends to incorporate different spaces of the Universidad del Cauca that are also spaces of conservation of the cultural and natural heritage of the city of Popayán.

Based on the proposal of a cultural route of Mosquera (2020), a new one is proposed, called “Ruta Popayán Patrimonio Universitario”, which recognizes different tangible cultural attractions of the Universidad del Cauca (mansions, museums, faculties) and incorporates the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, as an element of Natural and Cultural Heritage. The possibility of developing ecological trekking and the natural resources that the Faculty has, make this site a new alternative for visitors, which includes activities such as learning about the processes developed in the laboratories of Biotechnology, Rheology and Packaging, Multiple Laboratory, Wood Laboratory, Biotherium and Pilot Plants, which house the laboratories of Seeds, Dairy, Meat, and Vegetables.

The methodology proposed by González (2022) was used for this study, which consists of five phases that include the study of the subject, identification of resources, and design and management of the tourist route.