Communication design for the dissemination of scientific knowledge. Languages, tools, technologies, collaborative processes for museum education

Global cultural heritage debates and definitions from international organizations such as UNESCO are rooted in a predominantly Euro-American understanding. Material, original state and authenticity are the major justifications for being considered as cultural heritage, not suiting different non-material focused understandings of heritage that allow for continuous change as intrinsic part of the heritage object itself. Since the 1990s historic cities and urban heritage have become one of the focal points of global heritage policies, headed by international organizations like UNESCO. A shift from single buildings towards an (urban) landscape approach has occurred, in parallel with the growing consideration of intangible heritage and approaches linking tangible and intangible heritage, such as the Historic Urban Landscape Approach. In both cases the process was triggered outside the Euro-American sphere, with the aim to adapt the global heritage understanding to other cultural environments and to introduce heritage concepts which suit the cultural understandings and actual urban challenges of the non-Western world. Key concerns of the international heritage debates are the understanding of urban areas as a layering of cultural and natural values and attributes, historic and actual ones and acknowledging the potential of urban heritage on urban development. However, in reality rapid urban change, economy-driven new urban developments, and non-suitable urban policies can impact negatively on historic cities, particularly in the Global South, where cities in addition have to cope with rapid change, high levels of informality and administrative shortcomings.