Antara sains dan kepentingan kolonial: Produksi pengetahuan spesimen hewan nusantara abad XIX - awal abad XX

Abstract

Historically, Indonesian animal specimens have significant value in the development of science globally. The indicator is that many animal specimens are documented in more scientific publications, and physically displayed in the Natural History museums in many countries, including the Bogor Zoological Museum, as the most comprehensive museum in Southeast Asia.  This research examines the problems of the reasons why Western scientists used the archipelago and its animal specimens as research objects, as well as how the process of knowledge production and knowledge transfer in the context of scientific development and colonial interests. The method used in this research is the historical method, which relies on primary sources in the form of zoological research publications in the Netherlands Indie (Indonesia) and abroad. This research produced three important findings. First, during the colonial period, Western naturalists carried out many explorations of the archipelago, published and brought various specimens to the Western world. Second, the exploration of Indonesian animal specimens is also closely related to political aspects in the form of knowledge production for colonial purposes. Third, the development of zoological science in the Netherlands Indie shows progress with indicators: massive exploration, periodic publications, and an increase in the Bogor Zoological Museum, in the research and the number of collections. This indication shows that the Bogor Zoological Museum is a significant axist for the transfer of zoological knowledge globally.