# División Paleobotánica del Museo de La Plata

> Research unit belonging to Museo de La Plata, Argentina

**Wikidata**: [Q118977066](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q118977066)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/division-paleobotanica-del-museo-de-la-plata

## Summary
The División Paleobotánica del Museo de La Plata (also known as Departamento Científico de Paleobotánica) is a research unit dedicated to paleontology and paleobotany within the Museo de La Plata in Argentina. It operates as a specialized research institute focused on the study of fossil plants and ancient flora, contributing to the broader scientific mission of one of Argentina's most important natural history museums.

## Key Facts
- Also known as: Departamento Científico de Paleobotánica
- Classification: Research institute (organization whose primary purpose is research)
- Parent organization: La Plata Museum (Museo de La Plata)
- Location: La Plata, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina
- Geographic coordinates: -34.9106 latitude, -57.9416 longitude
- Street address: Paseo del Bosque (Circ 1ª, Secc B, Mzna 866, Parc 1)
- Postal code: B1900
- Field of work: Paleontology and paleobotany
- Current director/supervisor: Josefina Bodnar
- Jurisdiction: La Plata Museum
- Wikipedia presence: Spanish language edition
- Wikidata description: "Research unit belonging to Museo de La Plata, Argentina"

## FAQs

### What is the relationship between the División Paleobotánica and the Museo de La Plata?
The División Paleobotánica is a constituent research unit within the Museo de La Plata, operating under the museum's jurisdiction. It functions as one of the museum's scientific departments dedicated specifically to paleobotanical research.

### What type of research does the División Paleobotánica conduct?
The division conducts scientific research in paleontology and paleobotany, focusing on the study of fossil plants and ancient vegetation. As a research institute, its primary purpose is generating new knowledge through systematic investigation in these fields.

### Where is the División Paleobotánica located?
The division is located at Paseo del Bosque (Circ 1ª, Secc B, Mzna 866, Parc 1) in La Plata, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, with postal code B1900. Its geographic coordinates are approximately -34.9106 latitude and -57.9416 longitude.

### Who leads the División Paleobotánica?
Josefina Bodnar serves as the supervisor and director/manager of the División Paleobotánica, providing leadership for the research unit's scientific activities and operations.

## Why It Matters
The División Paleobotánica represents a critical component of Argentina's scientific research infrastructure, specifically addressing the study of ancient plant life and fossilized vegetation. As part of the prestigious Museo de La Plata, the division contributes to the broader understanding of South America's paleontological heritage, a region with significant fossil deposits and paleobotanical importance. Research institutes like this one exist purely to generate new knowledge through systematic investigation, free from the teaching obligations that characterize university departments. By concentrating resources and expertise specifically on paleobotany, the division enables focused, long-term research that advances understanding of Earth's biological and botanical history. The study of paleobotany is essential for reconstructing ancient ecosystems, understanding climate change over geological time scales, and tracing the evolution of plant life.

## Notable For
- Operating as a dedicated research institute exclusively focused on paleobotany and paleontology
- Being an integral scientific division of the Museo de La Plata, one of Argentina's premier natural history institutions
- Contributing to the paleontological documentation of South American fossil flora
- Maintaining specialized research infrastructure within the Paseo del Bosque area of La Plata
- Functioning as a focused research unit distinct from university departments with teaching responsibilities

## Body

### Organizational Structure and Classification
The División Paleobotánica del Museo de La Plata operates as a research institute classified under the broader category of organizations whose primary purpose is conducting research. It functions as a departamento científico (scientific department) within the institutional framework of the La Plata Museum. The division is formally designated with the alias "Departamento Científico de Paleobotánica," reflecting its status as a scientific department specializing in fossil plant research. As a research institute, it is differentiated from scientific societies (which are membership-based organizations) and think tanks (which focus on policy research). The division applies to the jurisdiction of the La Plata Museum, operating under the museum's administrative and scientific governance.

### Geographic Location and Facilities
The research unit is situated in La Plata, the capital city of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Its precise address is Paseo del Bosque (Circ 1ª, Secc B, Mzna 866, Parc 1), with the postal designation B1900. The facility's coordinates are recorded at latitude -34.9106 and longitude -57.9416, according to references from Argentina's environmental monitoring system (SINCA). An additional coordinate reference places the headquarters at latitude -34.909111 and longitude -57.935222. The Paseo del Bosque location places the division within a significant urban park area that also houses other cultural and scientific institutions.

### Research Focus and Fields of Work
The División Paleobotánica maintains a dual focus on paleontology and paleobotany as its primary fields of work. Paleobotany specifically encompasses the study of fossil plants, including their morphology, evolution, and ecological relationships throughout geological history. As a research institute, the division exists specifically to generate new knowledge through systematic investigation in these disciplines. The research conducted contributes to understanding plant evolution, ancient ecosystems, and the paleoenvironmental history of the South American continent.

### Leadership and Administration
The division operates under the supervision of Josefina Bodnar, who serves as director and manager of the research unit. Her role is documented with the qualifier of "supervisor," indicating responsibility for overseeing the scientific and operational activities of the paleobotanical research programs. Information about the division's leadership is maintained on the Museo de La Plata's official website under the paleobotany section.

### Institutional Context and Affiliations
The División Paleobotánica exists as part of the broader research infrastructure of the La Plata Museum (Museo de La Plata), a major natural history museum in Argentina. This institutional relationship provides the division with access to museum collections, research facilities, and the academic network associated with one of South America's significant scientific institutions. The division's status as a research institute positions it within a globally recognized category of organizations dedicated exclusively to research activities, as reflected in its classification across multiple knowledge organization systems and library cataloging standards. The division maintains a presence on Spanish Wikipedia, with one sitelink documenting its activities and significance within the Argentine scientific community.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.sinca.gob.ar/)
2. [Source](https://www.museo.fcnym.unlp.edu.ar/div_arqueologia#:~:text=La%20Divisi%C3%B3n%20Arqueolog%C3%ADa%20realiza%20la,%2C%20Europa%2C%20%C3%81frica%20y%20Asia.)
3. [Source](https://www.museo.fcnym.unlp.edu.ar/div_paleobotanica)
4. [Source](https://monumentos.cultura.gob.ar/)