Universum (UNAM)

Universum, the Museum of Science of the National Autonomous University of Mexico
Universum, el Museo de las Ciencias de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

Main entrance to the museum
Location Mexico City
Director Dr. José Franco
Website http://www.universum.unam.mx/

Universum (full name Universum, el Museo de las Ciencias de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México) which translates to Universum, the Science Museum of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, is Mexico’s primary museum dedicated to promoting science and technology to the public as well as support the university’s science missions. It was opened in 1992 at the Ciudad Universitaria in Mexico City. Today it has thirteen halls divided by theme dedicated to various permanent exhibitions. It has worked with outside public and private entities to develop both permanent and temporary exhibitions and has worked to develop other science museums in other areas of the country.


Opened in 1992, Universum, el Museo de las Ciencias de la Unversidad Nacional Autónoma de México (Universum, the Science Museum of the National Autonomy University of Mexico) or Universum is one of the first science museums of its type in Latin America .[1][2] It is located on a ten hectare site in the south of the Ciudad Universitaria, an area that houses a number of the university’s cultural institutions, which is also part of the Pedregal de San Ángel ecological reserve. Its facilities cover 25,000m2 with 12,000m2 dedicated to permanent exhibitions.[3][4] These permanent exhibitions are house in thirteen main halls with various themes.[1][4]

Its mission is to contribute to the formation of a scientific and technological culture, as well as interest in science and technology by society in general.[3] For this reason, the museum designs its exhibitions with simplified language and attractive presentations. The idea is to make science fun.[4] Another of its main functions is to archive and make available work done by UNAM’s researchers at the facility’s library and archives.[2]

During the institution’s twenty years, it has received over 11 million visitors.[2] Universum has also worked to create extension museums in other parts of the country such as the Museo de Ciencia y Tecnología in Chiapas .[5]

Permanent exhibits

Part of the brain and nervous system exhibition

Permanent exhibitions are housed in thirteen halls on three floors of the main complex. They include the José de la Herrán Planetarium, the Parákata Butterfly Exhibit, Patli exhibit on medicinal plants, Biodiversity Hall, Mathematics Hall, Golem unit on artificial intelligence, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,” “The Brain,” “Chemistry in Everything,” “The Universe,” “Euclid’s Window,” “Our City,” “Evolution, Life and Time,” “Population,” “Health” and “Sexuality.”[6] A number of its exhibits have been developed in collaboration with various private and public entities. The Paráka Butterfly Exhibit is an area with live butterflies in an enclosure designed to imitate their natural habitat. It also works to breed butterflies native to the Valley of Mexico.[7] The Health section focuses on human health and it maintenance, with interactive displays, some of which provide personal information. The hall was sponsored by the Asociación Nacional de Productores de Refrescos y Aguas Carbonatadas.[8] The space exhibit has real moon rocks which were donated to the institution by NASA .[2] The museum also has an artificial intelligence robot created for interaction with children called Golem. It was created by scientists in applied mathematics from UNAM, to responds not with video but rather with information modified to the person who is interacting with it. It is the first robot designed to recognize children’s voices speaking Spanish.[9]

Temporary exhibits

Museum visitors playing a game called "lotería" as part of a cacao exhibit

In addition to its permanent exhibits, the museum also host small and large-scale temporary exhibitions, sometimes in collaboration with other institutions. In 2002 it hosted an exhibit called En busca de Teotihuacan:Arqueologia y ciencia (In search of Teotihuacan: Archeology and science) dedicated to the science related to the excavation and interpretation of the remains of the ancient city.[10] In 2004, it hosted robotic displays of savanna animals from Africa such as a hippopotamus waking up, an elephant calling to its child and crocodile opening its mouth to let birds pick off remains of its meal. The display was created as a collaboration between the university and the Mexican animation company Animatronix.[11] In 2006, an exhibit demonstrating how a virus infects a cell was created by artist and architect Antonio O’Connell made with wood, much of which was recycled from construction sites.[5] In 2010, it hosted an exhibition dedicated to German physicist Max Planck called the “Tunnel of Science” dedicated to the mysteries of the universe.[12] In 2012, the museum held various small exhibits such as “La ciencia con sabor a chocolate” (Chocolate flavored science) but its largest temporary exhibition was the inauguration of Body Worlds Vital. Body Worlds is a series of exhibitions of real human bodies which have been “plastified” for display. In this exhibition, it shows the body in movement.[2][13][14]

Services and events

Child with beaker at a chemistry demonstration

The museum seeks to engage the public through exhibitions, activities, workshops, conferences, classes, cinema and theater. It also hosts meetings, congresses, book presentations, seminars, roundtables, award ceremonies, demonstrations and more.[3] In summer, the museum hosts classes and courses for children, divided by age group, on science topics.[4][15] Events in 2012, included the 61st Encuento de Ciencias, Artes y Humanidades (Science, Art and Humanities Encounter),[2] and event to coincide with the transit of Venus across the sun,[16] and its 20th anniversary, which included various conferences, exhibitions, a “Science, Arte and Rock Festival,” and a Christmas campaign called “Regalar también tiene ciencia” (Giving also has science) .[2][17] Courses for children and adults include basic astronomy, modern astronomy and constructing a telescope. The museum also offers internships and other programs for students in undergraduate programs.[3]

Various of its facilities are available to rent including the Teatro Universum, Foro de Quimica, Sala Juárez, Auditorio de la Casita de las Ciencias, Cabina de Radio and Sala Luis Estrada.[18] It also has a cafeteria and full restaurant.[4]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Universum_(UNAM).


  1. 1 2 "Universum, Museo de las Ciencias" [Universum, Science Museum]. Sistema de Información Cultural (in Spanish). Mexico: CONACULTA.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Universum celebra 20 aniversario con entradas al 2x1" [Universum celebrates 20th anniversary with 2x1 entrance] (in Spanish). Mexico City: Azteca Noticias. November 28, 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Conócenos" [Get to know us] (in Spanish). Mexico City: Universum.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Universum (Museo de las Ciencias)" [Universum (Science Museum)] (in Spanish). Mexico City: Directorios de México.
  5. 1 2 Patricia Lopez (December 20, 2006). "Infectan a Universum" [Infect Universum] (in Spanish). Mexico City: Reforma. p. 10.
  6. "Exposiciones" [Exhibitions] (in Spanish). Mexico City: Universum.
  7. "Mariposario Parákata" [Parákata Butterfly Exhibit] (in Spanish). Universum. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  8. "Inauguran sala en Universum embotelladores de refrescos" [Soda bottlers inaugurate hall at Universum] (in Spanish). Mexico City: Reforma. January 20, 2011. p. 1.
  9. "Exhiben en Universum robot que interactúa con niños" [Exhibit robot in Universum that interacts with children] (in Spanish). Mexico City: NOTIMEX. January 24, 2010.
  10. Omar Garcia (December 13, 2002). "Arriba a Universum visitante 6 millones" [Universum’s 6 millionth visitor arrives] (in Spanish). Mexico City: Reforma. p. 2.
  11. Antonio Cruz (August 15, 2004). "Ruge la sabana en Universum" [The savannah roars at Universum] (in Spanish). Monterrey: El Norte. p. 4.
  12. "Túnel de la ciencia" [Tunnel of science] (in Spanish). Mexico City: UNAM.
  13. "Universum exhibe órganos y cuerpos humanos plastinados" [Universum exhibits human organs and bodies preserved in plastic] (in Spanish). Mexico City: Azteca Noticias. July 26, 2012.
  14. "Body Worlds Vital". Mexico City: Universum.
  15. "Cursos de verano" [Summer courses] (in Spanish). Mexico City: Universum.
  16. "Universum se prepara para Tránsito de Venus" [Universum prepares for the transit of Venus] (in Spanish). Mexico City: El Economista. May 28, 2012.
  17. "Celebra Universum 20 años de vida con Festival de ciencia, arte y rock" [Universum celebrates 20 years of live with Science, Arte and Rock Festival] (in Spanish). Mexico City: NOTIMEX. October 23, 2012.
  18. "Renta de espacios" [Space rental] (in Spanish). Mexico City: Universum.

19°18′41.06″N 99°10′50.39″W﻿ / ﻿19.3114056°N 99.1806639°W﻿ / 19.3114056; -99.1806639

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