Nature and Objectives

The Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza [IMSS] is one of the foremost international institutions in the History of Science, combining a noted museum of scientific instruments and an institute dedicated to the research, documentation and dissemination of the history of science in the broadest senses.

The museum, the specialized library, the archives, the multimedia, photographic and restoration laboratories provide an integrated whole in the service of disseminating scientific culture, capitalizing on Italy's technical/scientific heritage, while continuously updating research in the history of science and technology.

Since its foundation on May 12, 1927 (R.D. no. 1060 ) the IMSS has been an Incorporated Body guided by a Board of Directors whose members include representatives from the University of Florence, the Municipality of Florence and the Ministry of Education, University and Research. It receives funding from the Ministry for Cultural Affairs (Law 534/1996), from the Ministry of Education, University and Research (Law 6/200) and from the Region of Tuscany (L.R. 12/1998). Its special projects are sponsored by public and private agencies. It also receives continuous support for its activities from the Ente Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze.

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