On the occasion of the 21 July National Holiday, and for the fifth consecutive year, the Belgian Federal Science Policy  will present a exhibition at the Royal Palace. This year’s theme is biodiversity.

Four major federal scientific institutions, including the Royal Museum for Central Africa, will join forces. On the strength of their exceptional collections, they will aim to raise awareness of the cultural differences among people in their relationships with nature. Among some peoples, for example, humanity is not necessarily portrayed as the dominant force, as is so often the case in Western society.

Anthropological and archaeological research throughout the world has shown that beliefs and relationships vis-à-vis nature can be divided into four main systems, or ‘ontologies’. The exhibition will first present the visitor with the mode of Western thought known as naturalism. Animism, totemism and analogism will come next, before the visitor is confronted by a presentation on the status of a particular family of animal: the bovid.

Practical Information
Exhibition at the Royal Palace, Place des Palais, 1000 Brussels
From 26 July to 5 September 2010
Free entrance