Certification

To veer off slightly on a tangent, I would like to table a concern
which relates to the issue of continued development in your
profession after either graduation or indeed, certification.

I agree with many of the comments that conservation is an
ever-evolving body of knowledge and that one must keep current to
stay at the top of your 'game'.  There are several ways to do this
including research and publication, communication via the internet
and attending conferences where one can exchange ideas with your
peers. I attended AIC, Miami and found it exhilarating.  The
exchange of information and more importantly, personal experiences
with treatments and new products was invaluable for me
professionally.

I feel that most conservators and the 'field' would benefit from
this kind of inter-action. My comment is that the cost of
conservation professional development and other 'symposia' is
becoming prohibitively expensive.  This should be considered when
you are trying to attract as many people in the field as possible.
Conference fees are relatively high, especially when many
Institution's budgets are being cut and staff laid off and when
international currency fluctuations can substantially alter the
relative expense for the individual.

Interaction and exchange is important for our field, and I would
like to suggest that the opportunity is not there for many people
simply because of the relative cost.  Should something be done to
facilitate greater attendance by monitoring fees?

Susan Stock


                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 16:37
                Distributed: Wednesday, December 4, 2002
                       Message Id: cdl-16-37-004
                                  ***