A docent is a museum or institution educator who primarily works in a museum or institution setting. The word “doctor” comes from the Latin word “docere,” which means “to teach.” Docents can also work at universities, though the title varies depending on the country in which the institution is located. Docents frequently volunteer their time and expertise, and they are an important part of public outreach programs aimed at educating, entertaining, and assisting the general public.
A docent is a type of guest lecturer who works at a university. He or she is usually not a regular member of the university’s staff and is paid on a per-lecture basis. This type of docent typically holds the same credentials as a full-time professor. Different universities employ docents in different ways, and in universities with libraries and museums, a docent serving as a guide rather than a lecturer is fairly common.
A docent is an important member of the staff at a museum, institution, or organization. He or she frequently volunteers because of a personal interest in the museum’s collections or the organization’s cause. He or she receives extensive training in data collection, question types, and how to deal with a variety of social situations. The docent is usually given an official tag or uniform after the training is completed so that guests can identify him or her.
Museums, parks, botanical gardens, zoos, and a variety of other institutions employ docents. When they’re out and about in the public collections, they’re usually willing to help and answer questions. They can also lead guided tours or other public outreach programs at zoos and aquariums, such as animal feedings or touch tanks. The docent hopes that by educating the public, future generations of researchers and collectors will become interested in the institution’s collections.
A docent may have access to museum collections in exchange for serving as a guide in some cases. Researchers may serve as docents, which is exciting for the public because it allows them to directly question the researcher about the collection and research being conducted. This is frequently the case, especially at natural history museums, and it can encourage members of the public to volunteer after they have interacted with someone who is enthusiastic about the research or work being done.