ABSTRACT
Many of the risks that natural history museum collections currently face, and will face in the future—fire, water, theft, vandalism, natural disasters, and war—have always been present. It is the professional staff, the architects, and the designers of exhibitions that must ensure the safety and security of the museum, including its collections, the inventory of the collections, the visitors, staff, and buildings. Protection is neither an easy nor a glamorous task: it requires awareness, a good organization as well as discipline. And it requires funding for constructional and electronic preventative measures. A risk assessment must always lie at the basis of decisions, and often simple, organizational, and pragmatic measures prove to be the best solution. Technology for presenting collections will develop as well, using new digital techniques such as three-dimensional scans, virtual reality, and augmented reality to enhance the experience of the visitor.
