Museum of Natural History at the Shilo North-Eastern Interd isciplinary Scientific Research Institute, Far East Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Magadan, Russia:

M. I. Fomina, Director, Candidate of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences, museum@neisri.ru
N. V. Maltseva, Engineer

This article aims at description and popularization of research implemented at the Institute. Museum activities in alliance with science, education and arts is the main governmental tool of cultural and, thus, social development of a nation. The Museum of Natural History reveals in full the diversity of research professions and presents numerous exhibits and excursion programs, which are the results of scientific studies. The Museum collections have been sampled by the Institute researchers. Excursion programs developed by the Museum staff present are addressed to people of different ages. The manner of presentation makes the information intelligible for any one. Creative approaches of the Museum guides inspire growing interest of the Museum visitors in natural and historical sciences. For instance, the Geological and Mineralogical Halls of the Museum represent in full natural science studies conducted at the Institute, and in addition to this, the Museum visitors can also familiarize themselves with the regional history at the Archeology and Ethnography Hall, and at the Memorial Office of Academician N.A. Shilo. The article contains a brief description of the Museum expositions with emphasis on unique exhibits. For a better perception of information presented to the visitors, we have developed theme excursions focused on individual research areas. Our article describes in detail the methodology of archeological and ethnographic excursions as a game for children. The priority task of the Museum’s team is popularization of such sciences as geology, history, archeology, and ethnography and promoting interest to these professions.

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