Raphael research projects

English Heritage is looking for partners for the 1998 round of
European Union Raphael research projects. Because of the late
announcement of the topics for the 1997 round (just closed) English
Heritage has not submitted any proposals this year, but would like
to do so next year. This message is primarily aimed at readers in EU
Member States and Associated States, although it is possible to have
associates and subcontractors in other countries.

English Heritage, the British Government heritage preservation
agency, is looking for partners from EU Member States or Associated
States for the 1998 round of Raphael research projects. Although the
precise topics will not be announced until next year, we expect that
projects in the following areas will be eligible:

    1.  Interaction of historic artefacts with their environment -
        for example, the influence of the environment in historic
        buildings on furniture, paintings, textiles etc.

    2.  The building as the interface between the internal and
        external environments: moderating the influence of the
        external environment on the internally - for example,
        microclimates in buildings, the transport of heat, water
        vapour and solutes across interfaces, and their effects on
        wallpaintings, historic window glass, floor tiles, mosaics.

    3.  The structure as the interface between the above and below
        ground environments - for example, the rate of erosion of
        exposed archaeological sites, the preservation of exposed
        archaeological sites, the effects of reburial on
        archaeological sites, the movement of water and solutes, the
        effects of temperature and water content cycling.

We already have a project running to measure the effects of the
environment in an historic house on the furniture displayed there.
We intend to widen this study to include the effects on oil
paintings on canvas, and on the structure of the house itself. We
would be particularly interested in collaborating with other
institutions who are responsible for collections in historic houses,
where the climate is different from England's (ie hotter or colder).

If you are interested in collaborating in any of these areas, or
have questions, suggestions or comments, please contact:

    Dr Barry Knight
    Senior Conservation Scientist
    English Heritage
    23 Savile Row
    London W1X 1AB
    U.K.
    +44 171 973 3322
    Fax: +44 171 973 3330
    barry<-a t->eng-h< . >gov< . >uk

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 11:41
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