Association of Friends of Scientific and Technical Collections
Why did the need for such an association arise?
Because these collections are very numerous and diverse, and the need to preserve and promote them has not always been a priority for the University or research institutions.
Their institutional recognition is relatively recent, and a formalized collections department (now SPH) was only established (at the then UM2) in 2004, and even then with limited human resources.
The staff members who were aware of the issue then formed an association. The question of their status (prior to the creation of the association) had been raised on several occasions with the legal department of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research, which did not want to hear about "volunteers" in an institutional context, so the association was created in September 2004.
In what capacity do the members of the Association participate?
As experts:
Their expertise (thatProfessors, researchers, advanced students, doctoral students, practitioners, and technical staff who have had, or have had little or no connection with these collections, as well as knowledgeable amateurs) can be put to good use at various levels: at the level of the objects themselves, their conservation and their promotion for and by research (making them available to researchers or participating in research, scientific publications, etc.), and their promotion through the selection and presentation of objects to help disseminate scientific culture (exhibitions, scientific workshops, conferences, etc.).
The AACST is a partner and is not subordinate to any university department:
Its scope of activity was clearly defined when it was created, both by its founders and by the University (with the approval of the relevant ministry) and its Collections Department at the time.
However, any work on the University's collections (and by delegation, under the responsibility of the Historical Heritage Department or a research laboratory) can only be carried out with the agreement of the SPH or the research laboratory.
office
- Chair: Monique Vianey-Liaud
- Secretary: Mireille Charmantier
- Treasurer: Pierre Demathieu
- Board members: Anne Lise Charruault and Henri Reboul
