Teaching Conservation Science

Issues in Europe

Evangelia A. Varella Aristotle University of

Thessaloniki

Defining a Conservation Scientist(Bologna Document, 1999)

A conservation scientist today can be defined as a scientist with a degree in one of the natural, physical and/or applied scientific disciplines and with further knowledge in

conservation (ethics, history, cultural values, historical technologies, past and present conservation technologies and practice,

specific scientific aspects, etc.) which enables him to contribute to the study and

conservation of cultural heritage within an interdisciplinary team.

Describing the Role of a Conservation Scientist

(Bologna Document, 1999)

Study, investigate and monitor cultural heritage and its environment with respect to conservation and preservation

Define, develop and evaluate conservation concepts, materials, measures, methods and techniques, and develop standards

and guidelinesProvide diagnosis before, during and after conservation

interventionsConduct research on causes and mechanisms of deterioration

and interpret scientific results for the benefit of the conservation of cultural heritage

Communicate the scientific principles of conservation and promote scientific research in conservation

Co-operate with other disciplines

 

Studies in Conservation Issues:

Vocational Studies in Conservation

Bachelor’s in ConservationBachelor’s in Documentation

Master’s in Conservation

Bachelor’s in Chemistry and related disciplinesfollowed by

Master’s in Conservation Science

Ph.D. Studies

Important Trans-National Projects on Conservation Science Distance

Learning:

CURRICLeonardo/Socrates

IKONOSINCOMED II

ECORESTAULeonardo/Socrates

CURRICUniversity Postgraduate Curricula

for Conservation Scientists

Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts (Denmark)Oviedo University (Spain)

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece)Hungarian National Museum (Hungary)

Bologna University (Italy)International Centre for the Study of Preservation and

Restoration of Cultural Property (Italy)Central Institute for Restoration (Italy)

Opificio delle Pietre Dure (Italy)Netherlands Institute for Cultural Heritage (The

Netherlands)

CURRIC

The aim of the project is to offer guidelines to educational institutions for designing and

implementing university curricula, including training, practice and research for conservation

scientists. The curricula are structured into modules carrying European Credit Transfer

System credits. Access to training is promoted through teaching certain core course modules by e-learning by means of an appropriate web

site.

IKONOSCreating New Cultural Heritage Horizons

Through Distance Learning Nodes

The Malta Centre for Restoration (Malta) Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece)

Netherlands Institute for Cultural Heritage (The Netherlands)

Historic Scotland (U.K.)

Yarmouk University (Jordan)University of Fez (Morocco)

University of Boumerdes (Algeria)National Heritage Institute (Tunesia)

IKONOSThe aim of the project is to create a network of institutions which can pool resources to provide

practical solutions to overcome the pressing need of conservation experts and specialist

teachers, in order to cope with the vast amount of conservation work in many countries around

the Mediterranean. The target groups include dozens of conservators and hundreds of students in eight countries, who

are being given access to specialised training. Video-conferencing and the Internet are being used to agree conservation criteria, catalogue artefacts (including risk/didactic value criteria),

train trainers and teach students.

European Chemistry Thematic

Networkover one hundred European chemistry

departments in thirty countries

projects on tuning of chemistry curricula

at various levels

Working Group on Chemistry and Cultural Heritage

Joint Distance Coursesorganized by ECTN

possible target groups:

graduate students in chemistry graduate students in conservation

postgraduate students in conservation science postgraduate students in conservation

Joint Distance Coursesorganized by ECTN

operational framework:

SocratesMinerva, Leonardo, e-Content

Socrates Mundus

Tempus III

co-operation with further networks

Joint Distance Coursesorganized by ECTN

e-Learning should:focus on chemistry-related issues

be highly specializedbe structured into modules

e-Training should:focus on standard applications integrate new technologies

(simulations, virtual experiments)