"Turned Into One" - Part II: A Temple of Science

The University of Coimbra's "Temple of Science" is just a few hundred meters away from the "arts district" sporting the Palace and the Joanina Library in all their splendor. Many students are likely to come to both areas on the same day - possibly, on multiple occasions - for lectures, ceremonies or routine administrative purposes, and yet the two clusters give off completely different vibes. The science hub, formally known as Campus II, is much plainer, much more down to earth (or its components, as the cover picture may suggest), and it's clearly designed to engage and foster the mind rather than delight and massage the soul. Campus II hosts the Faculty of Sciences and Technology that incorporates, among others, departments of physics, chemistry, engineering and health sciences. Such departments' highly specialized nature appeals to prospective scientists but presents a challenge when it comes to attracting laymen to exhibitions organized and promoted by the University. The hosts met the challenge by, deliberately or unwittingly, grouping their exhibitions around one central topic.

The topic can be very generally described as "Discovering the Unknown", and it starts with a geological display: a variety of rocks of many shapes and colours experts can appreciate, and everybody else - enjoy aesthetically. 

The next stop is a room of curiosities (also known as "wonder rooms" as a direct translation of German "Wunderkammern") featuring all sorts of creatures brought to Portugal from its overseas colonies during the Golden Age - something nobody in Medieval Europe had ever seen before. An early prototype of "Harry Potter"s elf Dobby seemingly straddling a strange device

a wild felid likely native to Brazil

a lizard at ease with books

and, last but very far from being least, the scientific cornerstone of the Portuguese Empire

The wonder room comes early enough to help open one's mind to the rest of the experiences, and it's an important preparation considering a twist in the tale in the shape and form of a "Jesuit Room".

The religious order founded by Ignatius Loyola had been embroiled in controversy ever since its inception in 1534. Feared by commoners and frowned upon by kings and Popes, the Jesuits were banned in and expelled from Portugal and many other European countries in the middle of the 18th century - and considered a good riddance. Even the language has always supported that negativity, as "jesuitical" became synonymous with "underhanded", "sly", "cunning", or outright "dishonest". In short, not many people or societies would look at the Jesuits and their history with a sympathetic eye. That one room in the University of Coimbra does. While staying away from politics and religion, it focuses on the human factor and presents human stories. On young monks literally sailing into the unknown - often never to return home. On their travels over rough seas and daily deprivations upon arrival...

The exhibition also highlights the consequences of those journeys - countries discovered

connections forged

In the right context, even a worn out slipper can tell a story...