Call for papers--Conference on biocides

Cultural heritage between conservation and contamination: The issue
    of biocidal products in museum collections and monuments

National Museums in Berlin, Dahlem Museums
Lansstrasse 8
14195 Berlin-Dahlem
Berlin
November 29 -December 1, 2007

In the past a great variety of biocidal heavy metal compounds and
persistent organic pesticides were applied in a large scale for the
liquidation of pests as well as for preventive measures for
long-term preservation of our cultural heritage. Only recently,
public and expert attention starts to focus increasingly on the
risks resulting from these treatments for human health, the works of
art and the environment in general. Arsenic, lead and mercury-based
biocides as well as those of organo-chlorine, organo-phosphoric, and
organo-tin compounds, their long-term behaviour and possible options
for their removal are becoming a focus of attention. Evolving from
issues related to contaminated objects in museum collections and
historic monuments, the discussions will cover legal and political
aspects, the scientific methodology for a reliable assessment of
health and environmental risks and mitigation strategies at the
laboratory and industrial levels.

With this seminar, the National Museums in Berlin embrace their
responsibility as a cultural institution which is largely concerned
with these issues.  The seminar aims to raise the general awareness
of biocide contamination of cultural heritage, compiling state of
the art analysis and mitigation approaches and eventually
contributing to the identification of possible gaps in current and
future researches.

The workshop will bring together experts and decision makers for a
discussion about current approaches for facing the challenges posed
by contaminated collections and monuments.

The seminar will consist of several invited lectures by
international experts in the field. Major topics that will be
addressed include:

    Historical development, analytical and conservation aspects of
    biocide contamination

    Health hazards inflicted by contaminated art and cultural
    heritage

    Options for sustainable cleaning and detoxification strategies
    including risk management

During the second day of the seminar, round table discussions
focusing on these main topics will provide opportunities for
exchange between the invited lecturers and the workshop
participants. Excursions presenting selecting case studies in the
region will be offered on the third day of the seminar.

Papers are accepted. Some of them will be selected for oral
presentation, the remaining ones may be presented as posters.

Registration: The registration fee is 100 Euro, students discount 50
Euro. The fee covers information materials, assistance to the
sessions and coffee breaks. After October 27, 2007, the registration
fee will be 150 Euro. Registration will be limited to 100
participants.

Information:

    Eveline Weilert
    e.weilert [at] smb__spk-berlin__de
    +49 30 32674919
    Fax: +49 30 32674912

    German: <URL:http://www.smb.museum/rf>
    English: <URL:http://www.smb.spk-berlin.de/
        smb/forschung/index.php?lang=en&n=1>

     **** Moderator's comments: The above URL has been wrapped for
     email. There should be no newline.

The deadline for Abstracts is October 12, 2007

Language: The presentations will be in English and German. Bilingual
abstracts will be distributed. Simultaneous translation will be
available during the entire seminar.

Participation: The seminar is open to everyone. The subject matter
is of particular interest to conservators, natural scientists and
decision-makers in museums and in the area of cultural heritage as
well as producers of safety materials and cleaning companies. A
certificate of attendance will be granted.

Organization: The seminar is organized by the Rathgen Research
Laboratory with the National Museums of Berlin in collaboration with
the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), the
Brandenburg State Office for Conservation and LAGetSi, Berlin.

Stefan Simon
Direktor
Rathgen Forschungslabor
Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Schlossstrasse 1A
D - 14059 Berlin
+49 30 3267 4910
Fax: +49 30 3267 4912


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 20:49
                  Distributed: Friday, April 13, 2007
                       Message Id: cdl-20-49-008
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