Why do the Balearic Islands not have a great natural science museum?

PalmaThe Balearic Islands are a unique enclave in the Mediterranean. They possess singular biodiversity, endemic species, their own geology and paleontology, and a scientific community that has been studying them for decades. However, all this knowledge is scattered among the UIB, associations, and private collections, without a major facility that preserves it and, above all, makes it accessible to the public. The Islands do not have a major public natural history museum. Geography PhD Guillem Pons describes the situation as an "anomaly." There is also no major botanical garden or major maritime museum.

According to Pons, the lack of such facilities is primarily a "historical and political will" issue. "We are the only community that does not have a major natural history museum," he remarks. Although there are some smaller-scale initiatives underway on the Islands, such as the Natural History Museum and the botanical garden in Sóller and the Regional Museum of Artà, there is a lack of a public reference institution to bring them together. "They are initiatives of country and culture," argues Pons, further noting that the Islands already have a good part of the necessary resources to set it in motion: "There is a university, there are professors... there is knowledge to carry it forward." In his opinion, a museum of these characteristics should be understood as a cultural facility, but also as a tourist complement and a tool to preserve and disseminate the natural heritage of the Islands. "They are built in every city. They are among the most visited places after major museum attractions, such as the Museo del Prado and the British Museum, for example," he states.

Pons explains that over the years there have been conversations and proposals to promote a Museum of Science and Technology. Preliminary meetings have been held to study the possibility of a facility of this type, but the projects have not quite taken root. One of the problems, he admits, is finding a suitable space, but the geographer believes that in Palma there are unique buildings that could take on this function. He gives as examples the old Gesa building – which Mayor Jaime Martínez wants to convert into a macro-complex with different uses – and the Slaughterhouse (Escorxador). "There are proposals for unique buildings that could house a museum of these characteristics," he reiterates.

The lack of public facilities has consequences for the scientific heritage of the Islands. "There are many scientific collections that leave the Balearics. We are losing cultural heritage. It is a fact and a shame," he warns. He refers to collections and materials gathered over decades by people who have dedicated their lives to paleontology, butterflies, and other naturalist disciplines.

In this sense, Pons vindicates the potential of the Balearics as a territory for the study of nature. "The situation is privileged," he points out, and recalls aspects such as insularity, endemic species, and the geological uniqueness of the Archipelago. "There are many aspects of biodiversity that are not made known," he notes. A good part of this knowledge is found within the academic sphere, but what Pons considers a fundamental piece is missing: the transfer of knowledge to society. "You cannot carry out the transfer of knowledge that a museum makes possible," he laments.

In a way, the Natural History Society of the Balearic Islands tries to fill this void. From its headquarters in Palma –in a space of about 200 square meters–, it preserves and catalogs scientific collections with scarce resources. The secretary of the entity, Damià Vicens, knows firsthand the difficulties involved in preserving and studying heritage without a natural history museum. The society houses very different collections, and also a specialized library that is practically "infinite," he highlights. The situation is far from perfect. Two years ago we ran out of space after receiving books from the collections of Àngel Ginés and Monti-sion. And the arrival of material does not stop. "It's a mess," summarizes Vicens with a smile.

A significant part of the collection still needs to be cataloged and digitized. The society already has a database with inventoried collections, such as the Muntaner-Carnatge, while others are waiting their turn. Among the pieces they guard is a collection of nearly 15,000 fossils by Joan Cerdà, collections of ants by Pasqual Comín, butterflies, and a herbarium from La Salle. They also maintain an extensive library with scientific journals from all continents, including Russian publications, many of which cannot be found on the internet.

The Natural History Society of the Balearic Islands was founded in 1954 and has since published a scientific bulletin with a particularly unique trajectory. International specialists review the articles, and the publication is indexed in Scopus, one of the main databases of scientific literature. "It is the only journal in the Balearic Islands," remarks Vicens. In addition to the bulletin, the entity publishes monographs and organizes courses and other activities. Today it has about 250 members.

According to Vicens, having a natural history museum in the Balearic Islands goes beyond the mere conservation of objects. "It is our history," he defends. A facility with these characteristics would allow "explaining the natural heritage of the Islands from a didactic and pedagogical point of view."

The other concern is generational renewal. "Young people today do not usually join entities like ours," he laments. Members are essential to keep the society alive and allow the publications, courses, and other activities that are often done "for the love of art" to continue. "There is a lack of replacement," he admits. And there is also a lack of space: "We have no room."