Genius Loci

Description

Genius Loci, a project realised thanks to the incentive ” Transizione digitale organismi culturali e creativi (TOCC)” of the Ministry of Culture and financed by the European Union – NextGenerationEU, was set up to strengthen the cultural and digital offer of the museum, making Explora more competitive at international level in terms of innovation.

Goals

Genius Loci is therefore a series of complementary actions that strengthen the museum’s positioning in terms of digital innovation and education for sustainability.

The project has three macro goals:

• to contribute to and strengthen the museum’s digitalisation processes by creating and experimenting with new cultural products capable of integrating different technologies with the museum’s educational and experiential needs

• to diversify audience development and engagement strategies through the activation of new experiences and communication channels between the museum and its current and potential audiences

• disseminate the museum’s intangible heritage free of charge by creating new forms of exchange of best practices and networking.

The activities of Explora

The goals of this project will be achieved through the implementation of three interventions that are part of the twin transition processes for strengthening and positioning the Museum in terms of digital innovation and sustainability education.

The scheduled interventions are:

• a permanent and interactive exhibition in the museum: a renovated 80 square metre space in which a playful-educational nature trail is created with video mapping and interactive tables with a focus on biodiversity and sustainability. Dedicated to children between the ages of 3 and 11, the space, designed according to the learning through play method, allows children to develop their imagination and creativity, enhancing transversal skills related to the UNESCO Sustainable Development Goals Education, Green Comp and EU Life Comp. These skills positively influence collaboration, communication, systemic thinking and the promotion of nature;

• an Augmented Reality game in the museum’s green area that is free of charge and available without the use of additional applications. Through a virtual challenge, players can find some 3D animals hidden in the museum’s green spaces. The game was created with the aim of using digital to boost the museum’s cultural offer and, consequently, to implement audience engagement and development strategies by raising public awareness of the protection of fauna and nature;

• an open source digital platform for the dissemination of its digital heritage: 5 software packages available and published in open source with content for web developers, programmers, cultural educational institutions, promoting digital reuse.

The project is supported by Municipio II Roma, Orto Botanico di Roma La Sapienza and WWF Roma e Area Metropolitana.