Lighthouses for biodiversity: prospects and challenges for zoological university museum in Indonesia

¹ Museum Zoologi SITH ITB, Jalan Let. Jend. Purn. Dr. (HC) Mashudi No. 1, Jatinangor, Kabupaten Sumedang, Indonesia, 45363
² School of Life Sciences and Technology, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Labtek XI Building, Jalan Ganesha No. 10, Bandung, Indonesia 40132

^* Corresponding author: ganjar@sith.itb.ac.id

Abstract

University museums have been offering a great opportunity to study thematic collections. In zoology, it has been aiding the university biologist to keep safe extensive biodiversity collections from academic expeditions. When appropriately managed, this opens an opportunity for display, research, teaching, and outreach, especially for regions that may not have easy access to government-managed museums. However, Indonesian university museums have been positioned in a confusing situation in which university museums have limited opportunities to serve the main roles of museums. We use Museum Zoologi Sekolah Ilmu dan Teknologi Hayati, Institut Teknologi Bandung (MZSITH-ITB) as a study case. In this paper, we tried to explore the current roles of university museums being served and explore the prospects and challenges for university museums. Concurrent triangulation approach from desk evaluation, visitor analysis, and a semi-structured interview was conducted to see the current roles of MZSITH-ITB and prospects and challenges in the future. In conclusion, clear general procedures to standardize the collection management are urgently needed, so university museums can have a degree of independence to collect and study objects and collections. This can allow easier data integration and specimen sharing in which the museums can work together to shed some light on Indonesian biodiversity.