Session on training for conservation scientists

The program of the meeting of the ICOM-CC Working Group on
"Scientific Methods of Examination of Works of Art" in Lyon will
include a half-day special session, organised in collaboration with
ICCROM and devoted to an initiative regarding the needs for training
of conservation scientists.

As you may know, ICCROM carried out in 1996-1997 an international
survey on scientific research applied to the conservation of
cultural properties. The results of this survey confirmed the role
of scientific disciplines for the conservation of cultural property
and its expansion during these last years. Nowadays it is reasonable
to talk about "conservation science" as a specific branch of applied
science.

Conservation science is aimed at the characterization of objects
produced by man from the standpoint of constituent materials and
production technique, at the study and understanding of the decay
process, and, last but not least, at the study and evaluation of
conservation products and techniques.

The number of scientists involved in conservation is increasing
according to the importance of diagnostic studies and researches on
conservation treatments. Awareness of the specific problems related
to objects of artistic and/or historic importance, which value has
to be conserved as much as their material integrity, is of the
utmost importance. In the majority of the countries, however,
university scientific curricula very seldom include educational and
training aspects specifically dedicated to conservation problems.

The special session will include a presentation by Rocco Mazzeo,
Manager of the Science for Conservation Program at ICCROM, followed
by a discussion aimed at evaluating the need and various options for
specialized training for conservation scientists.  If you cannot
attend the ICOM-CC Triennial Meeting in Lyon (29 August-3 September)
and would like to contribute ideas, please contact

    Rocco Mazzeo
    Manager, Science for Conservation Program
    ICCROM
    rm [at] iccrom__org

Marie-Claude Corbeil
Coordinator
Scientific Methods of Examination of Works of Art
ICOM-CC

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 12:92
                   Distributed: Friday, May 28, 1999
                       Message Id: cdl-12-92-005
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