From anatomy to zoology: Results on the history of university collections based on trans-disciplinary research

Abstract

The majority of research projects on the history of university collections are focused on a single collection or on collections of one discipline. Trans-disciplinary studies, however, despite opening up a different and more rewarding view on university collections, remain very rare. This article, drawing on results from trans-disciplinary research on university collections in Germany, gives new insights into the history of the origin(s) of collections and academic knowledge formation, as well as into the relevance of collections for the development of different disciplines.