1. Digitizing the Past, Driving Discovery – A Digitization Project on Objects from Early Belgrade's Chemistry Labs Inspiring Multifaceted Data Exploration
- Author
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Savić, Slađana D., Milanović Maštrapović, Vesna D., Ralević, Lidija R., Bojović, Snežana D., Tomašević, Biljana I., Roglić, Goran M., Milunović, Veselin, Vojnović, Branislav, Šolaja, Bogdan A., Kostić, Aleksandar, Savić, Slađana D., Milanović Maštrapović, Vesna D., Ralević, Lidija R., Bojović, Snežana D., Tomašević, Biljana I., Roglić, Goran M., Milunović, Veselin, Vojnović, Branislav, Šolaja, Bogdan A., and Kostić, Aleksandar
- Abstract
A project called Digitization of exhibits from Sima Lozanic’s Legacy (DELL) at the University of Belgrade – Faculty of Chemistry was devoted to the digital preservation of various objects connected to the first rector of the University of Belgrade – a chemist Sima Lozanic. Objects date between 1853 and 1925, and include chemical bottles, glass and ceramic laboratory dishes, and some apparatus used by Lozanic. The originality and relevance of the selected objects (n=260) were verified by comparing their design with other relevant objects from available laboratory catalogues between the 1850s and 1920s. Once when the specific objects were identified, their presence was looked up in the original chemical inventory books (the 1860s-1880s), textbooks and laboratory manuals by Lozanic. Even though this is the first digitization project at the Faculty of Chemistry, the created photographs and metadata were already used in other projects, which exceeded the expected project outcomes. The digitization project lasted during the preparation period of the exhibition on Lozanic, so the usage of photographs of his apparatus and some labware from his time in the graphic design of the exhibition was intended. Some selected photographs were also used in digital puzzle jigsaws for visitors. Other than the exhibition usage, Lozanic’s life and work inspired two more projects, with direct exploitation of the DELL results, both for or by schools. In collaboration with the national publishing house and one art professor, the educational poster about Sima Lozanic and his greatest achievements was developed for classroom interiors throughout Serbia. The other project was produced and performed by high school students in southern Serbia. Namely, they prepared a mini exhibition with the recreation of Lozanic’s laboratory and a short play about his life. With no original objects, the students used photographs from the DELL project to evoke the essence of Lozanic’s time.
- Published
- 2024