Course on environment

Innovative tools for exhibition purposes: environmental and damage
    assessment
COST Action G8 training school
Malta Centre for Restoration, Malta
October 29-November 3, 2004

The training school: Dosimeters, used to monitor the museum
environment and to understand the deterioration of museum objects,
are increasingly being employed in conservation, especially in the
implementation and planning of preventive conservation policies.
Other similar systems such as environmental sensors and Early
Warning Systems (EWS) have been designed or are being developed to
give a quick, reliable indication of environmental parameters such
as, RH, T, Light, UV, etc. in the museum environment. This advanced
course will review the current state of knowledge with regards to
the development of such tools. Special emphasis will be placed on
light dosimeters.

The course has been designed by working group 3 (Degradation
processes, corrosion and weathering) of the EU COST Action G8. COST
Action G8 ("Non-destructive analysis and testing of museum objects")
aims to better preserve and conserve our cultural heritage by
increasing the knowledge in museum objects through non-destructive
analysis and testing and by improving the synergy between art
historians, archaeologists, conservators and conservation or natural
scientists. Like other COST Actions, G8 is funded by EU Framework
Programmes and is administrated by the European Science Foundation
(ESF). For more information about COST Action G8 see
<URL:http://srs.dl.ac.uk/arch/cost-g8/>

The training school will be held at the Malta Centre for
Restoration, Malta. For more information consult
<URL:http://www.mcr.edu.mt>.

Objectives: The objectives of the COST Action G8 training school are
to raise awareness amongst museum professionals of the effect of the
environment on museum objects and to introduce them to some of the
latest tools available to monitor environmental parameters. The
possibilities, use and interpretation of results of various
dosimeters will be discussed during theoretical and practical
sessions. The workshop will also promote dialogue and exchange of
experience between conservation professionals from various
disciplines and experts from COST Action G8.

Programme: This 5-day advanced course will include lectures given by
world-class specialists in the field who are either coordinators or
partners of COST Action G8 or other EU funded projects. During the
first day the participants will be introduced to general concepts:
parameters affecting the indoor conservation of artefacts, the tools
that are currently used to monitor these parameters, and the way
that these measurements can be implemented for assessing damage on
artefacts. An overview of damage provoked by light on museum objects
will also be given.

The second day will put the participants in a real-case situation
where they will have the possibility to get acquainted with
conventional tools used to monitor environmental parameters and to
discover innovative ones that are currently tested in the museum
atmosphere.

The 3rd and 4th day will be devoted to the presentation of the EU
LiDO project. The objectives and outcomes of the project will be
explained. Feedback on the use of the LightCheck dosimeters will be
discussed, in particular the interpretation of the results obtained
and the way they can be related to the actual damage on artefacts.

Major EU projects working to develop other dosimeters, sensors or
EWS will be presented throughout the workshop and in particular on
the last day to enhance the discussion surrounding the use of these
new monitoring devices by museum professionals.

Lecturers invited:

    *   Dr Hannelore Romich (D), Fraunhofer-Institut fur
        Silicatforschung (ISC), coordinator of the EU LiDO project
        and participant of COST Action G8

    *   Prof Graham Martin (UK), Victoria and Albert Museum, partner
        in the EU LiDO project and vice-chair of COST Action G8

    *   Dr Marianne Odlyha (UK), Birkbeck College (BkC), coordinator
        of the EU ERA and MIMIC projects

    *   Mrs Elin Dahlin (NO), Norwegian Institute for Air Research,
        coordinator of the EU MASTER project

    *   Dr Jan Wouters (B), IRPA/KIK, partner in the EU MODHT
        project and official delegate of COST Action G8

    *   Dr Costanza Cucci (I), IFAC-CNR, partner in the EU LiDO
        project

    *   Dr Nigel Blades (UK), UCL Centre for Sustainable Heritage,
        coordination of the EU IMPACT project

    *   Ms Clara von Waldthausen (NL), Fotorestauratie Atelier C.C.
        von Waldthausen, photograph conservator and participant of
        COST Action G8

Participants: This advanced course is designed for a maximum of
25-30 museum professionals, conservators, curators, conservation
scientists or any person involved in collections care having at
least 2 years of experience. 5-10 places are reserved for Maltese
professionals.

Admission: Candidates are required to fill out the application form
and to provide a letter of motivation and a detailed CV.
Applications will be evaluated by the Management Committee of the EU
COST Action G8. Preference will be given to candidates working in
positions allowing them to share, transmit, and disseminate the
skills and information gained during the advanced course.

Preference will be given to applicants from COST Action G8 member
countries (COST Action G8 member countries are: Austria, Belgium,
Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Israel, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Romania,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland and UK) but this condition is
not an absolute requirement.

The training school is a full time course. Partial attendance will
not be accepted.

Applications should be sent by email at the following contact
address and should include:

    1.  The completed application form;
    2.  A detailed curriculum vitae;
    3.  A letter of motivation

    Dr Christian Degrigny
    COST Action - Training School
    Malta Centre for Restoration
    Bighi, CSP 12 Kalkara
    +356 21 80 76 75 ext 265
    Fax: +356 21 67 44 57
    cdegrigny [at] mcr__edu__mt

Any correspondence relating to the training school should be
addressed to the same address.

The official language of the training school will be English.
Proficiency in the English language is required.

Grant: All foreign participants of whom their application has been
approved will receive a fixed grant (600EUR) to cover their travel
expenses. The grant will be paid once the course is completed and
after submitting a scientific report to the organizer.

A certificate of attendance will be awarded to participants who
satisfactorily completed the advanced course.

Deadline for applications: Candidates' applications should reach MCR
by 15 September 2004.

Final evaluation: The list of participants will be given by 24
September 2004. Applicants will be informed individually and given
further practical information regarding the organization of the
training school.

Organising committee:

    *   Dr Christian Degrigny, MCR

    *   Ms Clara von Waldthausen, Fotorestauratie Atelier,
        Amsterdam, NL

    *   Ms Rachel Rivenc, MCR

    *   Prof Annemie Adriaens, chairperson of COST Action G8, Ghent
        University, Belgium

Christian Degrigny
Malta Centre for Restoration


                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 18:13
                 Distributed: Tuesday, August 17, 2004
                       Message Id: cdl-18-13-011
                                  ***