Aligarh: The Department of Museology at Aligarh Muslim University is organising an international seminar on “Museum for Education and Research” on Saturday to mark International Museum Day.

Addressing a press conference, Prof Abduraheem K, Chairperson, Department of Museology, said that as per a declaration of UNESCO, this day is observed in about 165 countries and “this year the day has been marked to be observed as ‘Museum for education and research’, which we will celebrate in collaboration with the International Council of Museums and the International Council for Biodeterioration of Cultural Property”.

He said the inaugural session will be held at 11 am in the Smart Classroom of the Department of Museology.

He further said that Dr Virendra Nath, President of ICBCP, will be the chief guest, while the guest of honour will be Rajkumar Patel, Superintendent of ASI, Agra Circle. The keynote address will be delivered by Prof Amareswar Galla, Former Vice-President of ICOM-Paris. Prof Ambika Patel, President of ICOM-India and Head, the Department of Museology at MSU University of Baroda will also address the programme.

Prof Abduraheem K informed that an Essay Writing Competition for school students will also be organized in two groups, one for the students of Class IX to X and another from Class XI to XII. “All the participants will receive certificates of participation, while the first, second and third prize winners of each category will get prizes as well,” he added.

He stated that the objective behind organizing the seminar and the essay-writing competition is to sensitise individuals and raise awareness about the museums' crucial role in spreading education and research. These programmes aim to highlight museums for their dynamic educational environments, emphasising their capacity to foster critical thinking and inquiry-based learning through interactive experiences.

“These initiatives also underscore museums' significance as repositories of cultural heritage and primary sources for scholarly research, promoting interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration,” said Prof Abduraheem K.

He pointed out that the significance of museums is increasing with new museums opening every year and as per the National Education Policy, museum visits are now mandatory for students.