Material Models in teaching and research: Indexing, documentation and analysis of models in university collections

In their double role as both products and sources of scientific knowledge, models are traditional key instruments of science. Until today, however, a full historical overview of the material models employed across the different scientific branches has not been compiled. Our systematic recording and documentation of material models in academic collections, which will include their presentation via a globally accessible multimedia online-database, can therefore be considered a seminal research contribution to scientific material culture.
Academic collections are particularly suited for such a project since the material sources used in and produced by teaching and research have largely been preserved. Consequently, they provide researchers with a representative range of models covering disciplines, types and times. The documentation and analysis of model collections which have up to date remained invisible to the public will not only make available new important resources for research on scientific and cultural history, but also broadly underline the importance of such objects as cultural goods worth preserving.