In the heart of Molise, in Duronia, stands the Duronia Permanent Geophysical Museum (MUGED), a unique interactive and educational center dedicated to the study of geomagnetic phenomena. Inaugurated on October 18, 2017 during the 5th edition of Planet Earth Week, the museum is a collaboration between the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) and the Municipality of Duronia, with the aim of enhancing the area and promoting knowledge of geomagnetism.
MUGED stands next to an important geomagnetic observatory, an integral part of the Italian Magnetic Network, which has been operational since 2010. This direct link to scientific research makes the museum a bridge between science and popularization, allowing visitors to get in touch with the processes that regulate the Earth’s magnetosphere-the very space shield of our planet.
The museum tour is designed as a true journey inside the Earth and its invisible forces. Through interactive exhibits, explanatory films and seminars led by INGV researchers, visitors discover how the geomagnetic field protects the atmosphere and conditions life on Earth’s surface. Earth’s magnetism, in fact, is not just a scientific curiosity, but an essential component of our survival.
Special attention is paid to schools: MUGED welcomes school groups of all grades, offering educational experiences that combine learning and involvement. However, the museum is also designed for a wider audience, including science enthusiasts and curious people of all ages.
The visit lasts about an hour and a half and takes place under the guidance of experts who accompany participants on an immersive and stimulating itinerary. Each stage of the tour invites reflection on the importance of constantly monitoring the geomagnetic field, which is essential for understanding and predicting natural phenomena that affect our daily lives, such as solar storms and northern lights.
MUGED is more than a museum: it is a place where science is made visible, understandable and fascinating, reminding us that, even beneath our feet, the Earth is alive and in constant motion.