[National Museum of Nature and Science] Awarded the "Special Prize" of the History of Science Society of Japan for its contributions to the preservation of historical materials and research and dissemination of the history of science!

The National Museum of Nature and Science (Director: Makoto Makino) was awarded the "Special Prize" at the 20th Annual Meeting of the History of Science Society of Japan on May 30.

This award recognizes individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to the advancement and dissemination of research in the history of science and technology in Japan and to the activities of the History of Science Society of Japan. The museum's contributions to the preservation of historical materials and the research and dissemination of the history of science were recognized.

This is the second time an organization has received this award, and the first time for a research institution including a museum.

Since its founding in 1877, the museum has been continuously engaged in the preservation of historical materials related to science and technology, as well as research and dissemination activities in the history of science. The collection includes approximately 30,000 items related to the history of science and technology (science and engineering materials), which serve as valuable foundational resources for the study of the history of science, including items designated as Important Cultural Properties and materials certified by academic societies. Researchers at the museum are engaged in empirical research on the history of science alongside the collection and preservation of materials. In recent years, the museum has also strived to discover and investigate important materials through the "Systematization of Technology" survey and the "Collection of Heritage of Technology" system.

Furthermore, the museum has been involved in dissemination activities for the history of science by organizing "History of Science Lectures" in cooperation with the History of Science Society of Japan and holding exhibitions related to science and technology using historical materials.

We are honored to receive this award in recognition of these achievements.

Award Plaque

Recent topics related to the history of science at the museum include the renovation of the South Wing exhibition room on the first floor of the Japan Gallery, which was completed in April of this year. This exhibition room showcases a variety of highly original tools and devices created by the Japanese people's intellectual interest in Japan's four seasons and diverse nature, which led to the development of natural sciences. The renovation, the first in approximately 20 years, has enhanced the exhibition to trace the trajectory of Japanese scientific and technological activities.

Additionally, the museum will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2027. In line with the theme of the anniversary project, "Connecting to the Past, Connecting to the Future," we will inherit the research foundation and achievements accumulated to date and continue to strive for the further development of research in natural history and the history of science (technology).

We kindly request that members of the press continue to show broad interest in our endeavors and report on them.

About the History of Science Society of Japan:

This society, with approximately 80 years of history, aims to "promote the advancement and dissemination of research in the history of science and technology" and engages in various projects to widely present research findings related to the history of science and technology and to foster their development. It also holds public lectures such as "History of Science School" to widely convey the appeal of the history of science and technology, and collaborates with the Science History Research Liaison Committee of the Science Council of Japan to promote research and dissemination of the history of science and technology both domestically and internationally.

About the History of Science Society of Japan Awards:

The History of Science Society of Japan established the following awards in 2006 as the History of Science Society of Japan Awards.

Academic Award: Commendation for published works that have made significant contributions to the study of the history of science and technology in Japan.

Paper Award: Commendation for excellent journal articles related to the history of science and technology.

Young Scholar Award: Commendation for researchers with short research careers.

Special Prize: Commendation for individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to the advancement and dissemination of research in the history of science and technology in Japan and to the activities of the History of Science Society of Japan.

Reason for Awarding the National Museum of Nature and Science by the History of Science Society of Japan:

The over 900 million yen raised in the crowdfunding campaign conducted in fiscal year 2023 for the purpose of protecting the National Museum of Nature and Science's (hereinafter referred to as "the Museum") collection and enhancing its preservation system is a testament to the great expectations placed upon the Museum. Since its founding in 1877, the Museum has been a central research institution and a leading museum in the history of science and technology and natural history, making significant contributions to the study of the history of science through its research, collection, preservation, and utilization of specimens and materials, as well as its exhibition and learning support activities. The Museum preserves approximately 30,000 items related to the history of science and technology (science and engineering materials), including items designated as Important Cultural Properties such as the "Paper Hariko Celestial Globe" made by Shunsho Shibukawa in 1697, and materials certified by academic societies. Numerous studies on the history of science have been conducted utilizing these valuable materials held by the Museum. Furthermore, researchers at the Museum, such as Touzaku Kimura, one of the authors of "Biography of Hantaro Nagaoka," have published excellent research on the history of science, and are currently engaged in discovering and investigating important materials through empirical foundational research as well as the "Systematization of Technology" survey and the "Collection of Heritage of Technology" system.

The Museum has also cooperated with the Society in the dissemination of the history of science. The Society has been holding regular "Introduction to the History of Science Lectures" and "Dissemination Lectures" at the Museum since around 1975. Materials from the former, handled by Mitsutomo Yuasa, a former president of the Society, are also preserved. The latter has been continued as "History of Science School" since 1988 and is currently held online after the COVID-19 pandemic. Since fiscal year 2023, "History of Science Lectures" have been jointly organized by the Museum and the Society and held at the Museum. The Museum has also held numerous special exhibitions and planned exhibitions related to the history of science, with recent notable examples including "1000 Technologies That Changed Japan" in 2018, which emphasized historical materials, and the upcoming "Measuring the Earth: 150th Anniversary of Meteorological Services Exhibition" in 2025. These exhibitions, combined with the Museum's high recognition, have greatly contributed to the dissemination of the history of science.

As described above, since its founding in 1877, the Museum has long been engaged in activities related to the preservation of historical materials concerning science and technology, and the research and dissemination of the history of science, thereby making significant contributions to the advancement and dissemination of research in the history of science. Therefore, it is deemed worthy of receiving the Special Prize of the History of Science Society of Japan.

Related Information:

History of Science Society of Japan https://historyofscience.jp/

Center for the History of Science and Technology, National Museum of Nature and Science https://sts.kahaku.go.jp/

150th Anniversary Project of the National Museum of Nature and Science https://www.kahaku.go.jp/kahaku150/