The Vice Chancellor Aligarh Muslim University, Prof. Naima Khatoon inaugurated the newly established Heritage Science Museum at the Department of Physics, AMU. The museum is a significant initiative aimed at preserving the legacy of scientific instrumentation and offering students and researchers a window into the evolution of tools that have shaped physics education and research through the decades.
The Heritage Science Museum features an extensive and thoughtfully curated collection of historical scientific instruments. Among the notable exhibits are the Galvanometer, once used to detect electric currents; the Mechanical Analytical Balance, crucial for precision measurements; and the McLeod Gauge, designed for measuring extremely low gas pressures. Other highlights include the Geiger-Müller Counter, vital in the field of nuclear radiation detection; the Analog Circular Slide Rule Calculator, a precursor to modern computing tools; and the Heritage Scientific Calculator, which played a foundational role in earlier scientific calculations.
Also on display are a Refracting Telescope symbolising early astronomical study, Vacuum Tubes and Photomultiplier Tubes central to early electronics and photon detection, and an antique Analogue Mechanical Clock. The High Purity Germanium Detector, used for gamma-ray spectroscopy, and the Lead Shield for Radioactive Sources further enrich the museum’s collection.