An event at the Natural History Pavilion of the University of Almería (UAL) has symbolized the collaboration with the Paleontological Museum of La Ballena, located in Viator. This twinning aims to complement the scientific outreach efforts of both institutions. María del Mar Ruiz, UAL's Vice-Rector for Culture and Society, and Daniel Luque, Councilor for Urban Planning and Youth of the Viator City Council, unveiled a commemorative plaque displayed in the collection access hall. Also participating were Azucena Laguía, curator of the PHN, and Juan Ibáñez, who explained the whale's fossilization process. Councilwomen Rocío García and Loli Escámez, and Elisa Álvarez, Director of UAL Culture, were also in attendance.
María del Mar Ruiz highlighted that the UAL's Natural History Pavilion is a space dedicated to the dissemination of the arid and semi-arid environments of Almería, housing collections of geology, paleontology, botany, and fauna. She noted that the twinning with the La Ballena Museum in Viator will allow for the exchange of experiences, joint activities, and the promotion of the collections from both spaces, benefiting society by facilitating access to and knowledge of the museum heritage.
Daniel Luque described the alliance as a "great link" for the activities of both centers. He explained that at the La Ballena Museum, one can learn about the geological history of Almería, including when the province was underwater. He emphasized the importance of offering young people, in a digitized world, a tangible experience through fossils. He announced that the same twinning ceremony will take place in Viator on the 27th of this month, inviting everyone to visit the museum, which houses a large number of fossils from the province and is a point of interest for science, history, and tourism.
Azucena Laguía expressed her satisfaction with the swift realization of the twinning, which will enable mutual dissemination of Almería's geodiversity. She is confident that the relationship will be very fruitful and lead to numerous joint activities, enriching public knowledge by complementing the information offered by both museums.
Juan Ibáñez, passionate about "stones" and a collaborator with the La Ballena Museum, stressed the need to promote Almería's mineral and paleontological heritage. He explained that the whale exhibited in Viator, measuring approximately 17 meters and dating back ten to twelve million years, was excavated starting in 2006. Ibáñez, who has donated numerous pieces from his private collection to museums, collaborated in the cleaning, assembly, and creation of the museum. He highlighted the existence of about 42,000 registered mines in the province, indicating an "enormous wealth" of minerals and fossils. He expressed his happiness with the twinning, hoping it will foster a provincial museum cultural itinerary.
