The Royal Society of Chemistry's Teesside Local Section are delighted to invite you to their Chemistry Week 2015 event. This event will be held in the stunning World Hertigate Site of Durham Castle, in the heart of historic Durham City and will feature a public lecture presented by Professor Andrew Beeby (Department of Chemistry, Durham University) and will detail the work that he, Richard Gameson (Department of History, Durham University) and their colleagues have done on the medieval manuscripts housed in Durham Cathedral Library and Durham University Library which between them house some of the finest medieval books the UK. "Shedding Light on Medieval Manuscripts. Identifying the materials used in medieval illuminated manuscripts gives us an insight into the techniques and skills of the scribes and illuminators, as well as the sometimes complex trade routes of the times. The challenge is to be able to identify materials on a delicate sheet of parchment, typically a folio of a bound manuscript that does not open readily, without contact, sampling or causing any damage. Ideally the technique should give an unequivocal identification of pigments with high spatial resolution and selectivity: a challenge indeed! At Durham we use Raman spectroscopy combined with hyperspectral imaging and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy to achieve this. We are currently studying the pigments used in manuscripts produced in the British Isles and northern Europe between the 7th and 15th centuries."
This whole event is free of charge and is is accessible to all ages and backgrounds - you don't have to be a scientist to attend, this lecture is packed full of local history! The lecture will be followed by a drinks and nibbles reception in Durham Castle allowing attendees to meet one another and also meet some of the people behind the Manuscripts project. The opportunity will be available (for a very limited number of guests) to have a "show and tell" with the Manuscripts currently held in the Palace Green Library prior to the talk - please visit the following website to register and for more information! https://manuscriptsshowandtell.eventbrite.co.uk Spaces are limited so please register you attendance to avoid disappointment! We look forward to seeing you there! RSC Teesside Local Section
This whole event is free of charge and is is accessible to all ages and backgrounds - you don't have to be a scientist to attend, this lecture is packed full of local history! The lecture will be followed by a drinks and nibbles reception in Durham Castle allowing attendees to meet one another and also meet some of the people behind the Manuscripts project. The opportunity will be available (for a very limited number of guests) to have a "show and tell" with the Manuscripts currently held in the Palace Green Library prior to the talk - please visit the following website to register and for more information! https://manuscriptsshowandtell.eventbrite.co.uk Spaces are limited so please register you attendance to avoid disappointment! We look forward to seeing you there! RSC Teesside Local Section
