“Traditional” museums have their center of gravity in collections that often precede the institutions themselves. It is the classic model of private collections that meet the public institutional channels and accessibility. The Museum of Zoology of the University of São Paulo is not an exception to this rule. Its collection is linked to collections of the nineteenth century incorporated to the State of São Paulo, in comings and goings of institutional settings to the current status as university museum of excellence in research, teaching and outreach. As such, MZUSP continues to face challenges and changing needs and adapt to new realities of the twenty-first century.
Natural History Museums; University Museums; Biodiversity
