Workshops

Choose from one of our three different workshops when you register to attend the conference.

The three conference workshops take place in parallel during the afternoon between 14:00-15:30.

RICHeS: Empowering Conservation and Heritage Science through a Distributed Research Infrastructure

This interactive workshop will provide updates on the Research Infrastructure for Conservation and Heritage Science (RICHeS) and explore its transformative impact on the conservation and heritage science community. Through case studies and collaborative discussions, attendees will gain valuable insights into how RICHeS is shaping the future of conservation and heritage science across the UK.

The session will highlight RICHeS' role in expanding access to innovative facilities, equipment, collections, expertise and digital resources. An interactive segment will showcase case studies from the 31 Tranche 1 RICHeS-funded projects, demonstrating real-world applications of RICHeS support within the conservation and heritage science sector. This includes an introduction to the Heritage Science Data Service (HSDS), RICHeS' digital repository, which aims to enhance data accessibility and the use of heritage science data across the sesctor.

Attendees will also learn how to engage with the programme, leverage cutting-edge infrastructure and collaborate with RICHeS-supported projects to advance their conservation and research initiatives.

Members of the RICHeS team will be available for follow-up discussions and networking.

 

Speed Mentoring for Emerging Professionals

Led by the Icon Heritage Science Group

This interactive session offers emerging professionals the chance to connect with experienced and recognised professionals in the heritage science field. Through one-to-one short sessions (10 minutes) with experts from the UK and with international experience, participants will engage in meaningful dialogue designed to provide guidance, support and insight for their individual career development.

Organised as a series of timed rounds, each mentee may by randomly assigned up to three one-to-one conversations (subject to availability) with mentors with different areas of expertise within the cultural heritage sector, ranging from museum practice to academic research. At the end of your sessions, you will meet the other mentees or ask questions to the organisers from Icon and NHSF.

Meet our mentors...

  • Adam Gibson is Professor of Medical Physics and Heritage Science at UCL

Adam is Professor of Medical Physics and Heritage Science at UCL. His research in heritage science has mainly involved multispectral, hyperspectral and X-ray fluorescence imaging of heritage objects. In medical physics, his main research area is in developing diffuse optical tomography for functional brain imaging of adults and children. He led the UK's contribution to IPERION HS, a major EU research infrastructure grant which is part of a series of grants that aims to become a European Research Infrastructure Consortium.

  • Archie Graf is an Experimental Officer at the National X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy facility (HarwellXPS)

Arthur (Archie) is an Experimental Officer at the National X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy facility (HarwellXPS) with a background in Chemistry and a PhD in spectroscopy from the University of Sheffield. He co-founded and co-chairs the Harwell Heritage Network, uniting scientists focused on heritage science at Harwell Campus - home to HarwellXPS, Diamond Light Source, ISIS Neutrons and Muons, and more. Archie specialises in surface science, with interests in material ageing, corrosion layers and other surface-related phenomena. He collaborates with institutions including English Heritage, Historic England, the Tate, the British Film Institute and many others.

  • Carl Heron is Head of Scientific Research at the British Museum

Carl Heron is Head of Scientific Research at the British Museum and is responsible, with a dedicated team, for the integration of scientific investigations with Museum priorities. Prior to that Carl was based at the University of Bradford. Research interests are varied but focus largely on analytical organic chemistry applied to the study of the past and the history of scientific investigations in archaeology. He is also interested in fostering a positive and productive research culture in interdisciplinary environments for PhD students, early career researchers and established staff and is committed to providing opportunities for training and access through partnership and collaboration.

  • Jim Williams is the Historic England Senior Science Advisor

Jim Williams in the Historic England Senior Science advisor and provides archaeological science advice to HS2 for Historic England. After a PhD in small mammal taphonomy he extended his interest in site formation processes to cover all aspects of preservation of archaeological sites and has co-authored guidance on Piling and Archaeology, and the Preservation of archaeological remains. He is currently working on guidance about Peatland restoration and the Historic Environment, and Waterlogged wood. He is a BSI committee member and convenor of the working group 18 on Characterization, preservation and management of archaeological sites. He leads a team of science advisors at Historic England who provide science advice to internal colleagues, local authority planning archaeologists and archaeological contractors (Historic England Science Advice). He was the National Heritage Science Coordinator and responsible for producing the three evidence reports that underpin the NHSS which led to the creation of NHSF. For mentoring conversations he is happy to talk about Historic England, archaeology, heritage management, guidance, standards and report writing (or anything else you want to ask him about!).

  • Constantina Vlachou-Mogire is the Heritage Science Manager at Historic Royal Palaces

Dr Constantina Vlachou-Mogire, Heritage Science Manager, is responsible for the planning and execution of research projects informing the preservation of the diverse objects and interiors of six heritage sites at Historic Royal Palaces. Constantina has been the principal lead in research grants (AHRC CapCo/RICHeS, DSIT RIO programmes) and collaborates with other heritage organisations, universities, research institutions and industry in doctorate and masters research projects. Her research has focused on preventive conservation, environmental science, material analysis, data management, modelling and ancient technology. She has published seveal academic papers and disseminated her research to specialist conferences as well as to wider audiences through blogs, social media and public talks. Constantina holds a PhD in Archaeological Sciences from the University of Bradford, is an Accredited Member of the Institute of Conservation, Chair of the National Heritage Science Forum Member Council, member of the BSI and European Committees for Standardization in Conservation of Tangible Cultural Heritage and a Fellow of the International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works.

 

This initiative offers a rare opportunity for early-career researchers and professionals to obtain tailored advice, pose targeted questions and explore strategies for overcoming the complexities of this competitive field. Topics may include identifying suitable career pathways, navigating institutional frameworks, tackling grant applications and setting realistic milestones for sustained professional growth.

The session exemplifies the joint commitment of NHSF and Icon Heritage Science Group to fostering meaningful engagement, knowledge exchange and capacity building within the heritage-science community.

 

Open access apps for preventive conservation: using damage functions in practice

Prof Matija Strlic, Professor of Analytical Chemistry, University of Ljubljana

Josep Grau-Bove, UCL

David Thickett, English Heritage Trust

Quantitative modelling of loss is an established risk assessment approach in collections management. The impact of preventative measures on the expected lifetime of objects or entire collections is based on damage functions, representing the decay of a property linked mostly to the utility value of an object. Such functions are based on experimental research or observations of real, often sacrificial objects, and enable comparative assessment of environmental control, e.g. humidity, temperature, or pollution, as well as on threshold values of a material property crucial to conservation or access.

Several open access apps have been developed to assist in the evaluation of environmental impacts on individual collection materials, some interactive, where users input their own environmental data to customise outputs.

We will explore the modelling of different types of damage processes, using open-access online apps.

Workshop participants will be invited to reflect on the strengths and limitations of these models, and provide feedback on the underlying concepts and utility of such tools for teaching or decision making.

Delegates will gain familiarisation with collections demography terminology, understanding of key concepts in quantitative risk assessment, practical use of open access apps.

Delegates are invited to use the apps in advance of the workshop and/or bring own laptops/smartphones to use during the session.