VIDEO. The University of Grenoble exhibits intriguing objects, never shown to the public

Grenoble-Alpes University has just inaugurated a brand new museum space within the Joseph-Fourier library. The Lab(o)tresors exhibition highlights, until December 13, fascinating objects from the history of science and technology, presented for the first time to the public.

Unusual, intriguing, even strange objects. Grenoble-Alpes University offers a journey to the heart of its collections with a selection of fascinating objects on the history of science and technology. Behind the windows, scientific instruments, phonographs, but also some curiosities, including a human eye larger than life.

This papier-mâché reproduction dating from the end of the 19th century is one of the rarities unearthed for the Lab(o)tresors exhibition. “It is the anatomical model of a human eye, that is to say an educational representation for students and teachersexplains Marion Maine, responsible for university technical and scientific collections. These are objects that have been so common that we didn’t think we needed to keep many of them.”

From the monocular magnifying glass to its contemporary evolution, the microscope, including a herbarium from 1790, the Grenoble university is exhibiting, on the campus of Saint-Martin-d'Hères (Isère), 70 objects which bear witness to the evolution of scientific tools. Devices sometimes forgotten in laboratory reserves.

“We have the difficult job of going and searching everywhere – in cellars, cupboards, offices, storage spaces – to find objects that represent a story, that mean something and that have meaning for us. history of science and technology”summarizes Marion Maine. “Behind each object, there is a story, a know-how, a gesture that we try to safeguard”she adds.

Visitors are curious about these objects, most of which have never been shown to the public. “At the entrance to the museum, there were human vertebrae on display. I had never seen one in real life. I had only seen images so obviously I found it interesting”smiles a young woman.

“It’s a memory of our technologiescomments another visitor. It's funny to see the place that these objects occupied physically when today, with small machines as big as a smartphone, we can bring together all kinds of measuring tools.” Installed in the hall of the Joseph-Fourier library, this new museum space aims to attract the 5,000 visitors who frequent this place daily.

“Some would not have taken the step of going to see an exhibition, of going to an exhibition room. On the other hand, they are present at the library and most of them are very happy to take a break to visit the 'exhibition moving from one room to another'notes Héloïse Faivre, curator of libraries and deputy director of public services at Grenoble-Alpes University.

This exhibition, also open free to external visitors, will be visible until December 13. With 700 objects found and already inventoried, the university has enough to fuel its future exhibitions.