Heritage Science Expert Working Group

Heritage Science Expert Working Group

Aims and Intentions

The aim of the Heritage Science Expert Working Group (EWG) is to promote the role and importance of analytical science in the cultural heritage sector. This involves improving the understanding of what each analysis method can deliver, explaining the best approaches to data collection and encouraging events that highlight appropriate analytical techniques within the conservation community. These aims are achieved through:

• the production of Technical Briefs that discuss specific analytical techniques needed to analyse heritage materials and
• the participation in and organisation of events that promote awareness of analytical science 

The EWG consists of representatives from the fields of conservation and heritage science to determine the analytical needs of the community. Technical Briefs are written in response to specific needs that have been identified by the Group.

Membership

The EWG is made up of representatives from industry and academia. Membership of the Heritage Science Expert Working Group, as of 1 May 2021:

• Dr Lucia Burgio - Victoria and Albert Museum (Chair)
• Ms Abigail Bainbridge - Bainbridge Conservation
• Dr Giulia Bertolotti - Conservation Scientist
• Dr Katherine Curran - University College London
• Dr Joshua Hill - Courtauld Institute of Art
• Dr Barry Knight - Retired, formerly British Library
• Ms Capucine Korenberg - British Museum
• Dr David Mills - Queen Mary University of London
• Dr Scott Allan Orr - University College London
• Dr Rebecca Stacey - British Museum
• Dr Roger Wood OBE - (Secretary)

Technical Briefs

The following Technical Briefs have been published under the auspices of the Expert Working Group.

You can access all of our technical briefs on the AMC website.

103.      Wax and wax-like materials – the what, where, and how in heritage collections

(Anal. Methods, 2021, 13, 2075)

 

101.        Analysis of historical dyes in heritage objects

(Anal. Methods, 2021, 13, 558)

 

98.          X-ray micro computed tomography in cultural Heritage

(Anal. Methods, 2020, 12, 4496)

 

91.         Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) in cultural heritage

(Anal. Methods, 2019, 11, 5833)

 

85.          Analytical pyrolysis in cultural heritage

(Anal. Methods, 2018, 10, 5463)

 

83.          Identification of plastics in cultural heritage collections by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)

(Anal. Methods, 2018, 10, 687)

 

80.          Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) in cultural heritage

(Anal. Methods, 2017, 9, 4338)

 

77.          X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis of porcelain: Background paper

(Anal. Methods, 2017, 9, 2371)

 

75.          UV-visible-NIR reflectance spectrophotometry in cultural heritage: Background paper

(Anal. Methods, 2016, 8, 5894)

 

67.          Raman spectroscopy in cultural heritage: Background paper

(Anal. Methods, 2015, 7, 4844)