Caracol, Ensenada Scientific and Cultural Center "A space to enjoy and grow by discovering"

Abstract

Abstract

Caracol, Science and Cultural Center is a citizen driven project with the main purpose of building and operating a museum dedicated to the Baja California Peninsula (México). It intends to show its natural phenomena and main characteristics aiming to promote among the children and teen-agers, interest and careers in science. The present text will describe the history of the project divided in five sections. The first section deals with the main characteristics of the Peninsula, its geological structure, the origins of the inhabitants of the Peninsula and the arrival of the Spanish explorers; its ecosystems, endemic flora and fauna and species in danger of extinction. The second section is an account of the history of the project, born out of the need to have in Ensenada a center for the dissemination and popularization of science. As a first step, a non-profit civil association was organized in order to obtain the concession of land and to raise the funds for the construction of the museum. Then, the central museographic themes were defined and finally the museum was built and operated in its first stage. The third section provides a description of the architecture of the museum and its urban location within the cultural zone of Ensenada. The fourth section explains the designation of the three central themes of the museum: the Earth, the Sea and the Sky of the Baja California Peninsula.

In each case, the contents are described with a list of questions it intends to answer to the visitor during its tour. Some of the themes found in the Halls of the museum are the following: in the Hall of the Earth, the origin and formation of the Peninsula, Earth inner forces, Climates in the Peninsula, Islands in the Gulf of California, Peninsular ecosystems, Endemic species, and Species in danger of extinction. In the Hall of the Sky: Origin and evolution of the Universe, Stellar objects, Scales of the universe, Black Holes, Kepler´s Laws, The Solar system and Eclipses. In the Hall of the Sea (under construction), Seas and Oceans, Morphology of the Oceans and coasts, Oceans in motion, Flora and Fauna in marine ecosystems, Marine mammals, Sharks and Rays. Finally, the text closes reflecting on the achievements of over two decades of continuous work and the main challenges that the Museum will encounter in the near future, particularly, the construction

of the Hall of the Sea, its maintenance and in general, the continuous improvement of the museum’s infrastructure and museography.