Mendel Museum, the first university museum in the Czech Republic – Short excursion to the history of university museums in the Czech Republic

Abstract

Mendel Museum has been a part of Masaryk University since 2007 and is the first comprehensive university museum in the modern history of the Czech Republic. It aims to promote the legacy of Gregor Johann Mendel, the Augustinian monk who discovered the basic principles of heredity in the Abbey of Old Brno. These principles have become the starting point for a new field of study – genetics. Mendel Museum prepares short-term exhibitions that promote the work of the university. Although Czech legislation does not acknowledge the independent category of ‘university museum’, the Mendel Museum conducts its operations under the Czech legislation for museums; this ensures the protection of collections and collection objects.