Symposium on earthquakes

International Symposium
Protection of Museum Artefacts from Earthquakes
Benaki Museum
Athens
2008

National Technical University of Athens
School of Civil Engineering

An earthquake is considered to be a great threat for the artefacts
displayed and kept within museums, as well as for the visitors and
stuff. The protection of the artefacts itself should be every county's
main aim, since museum collections are composed off objects of great
cultural importance and value.

Under this consideration, the aims of this Symposium are to:

    Sensitise the scientific community for the importance of the
    protection of museum artifacts and collections against
    earthquakes

    Present thorough reports on the latest developments in the field
    of antiseismic  protection of museum artefacts

    Contribute to the exchange of views and experiences and to
    develop a cooperation network

    Publish the Symposium postprints, which will include the
    reports, in order to promote the know how in the sensitive area
    of museums

Within the topics that are going to engage the Symposium are:

    Earthquake hazard and evaluation methods. Vulnerability of
    museum artefacts against earthquakes

    Hazard reduction of the drop off or slide of the artefacts in
    display and storage areas during an earthquake

    Practical views of Conservators, Museologists and Engineers for
    the appropriate measurement uptake

    Modern techniques for the protection of museum artifacts from
    earthquakes

    Suggestions to enhance current practice - codification of
    specifications

    Encouragement and creation of a cooperation network within the
    responsible sectors

The Symposium is mainly addressed to museologists, conservators,
engineers, manufacturers, organisations and other public and private
sectors relative to the protection of museums and cultural heritage
in general.

The Symposium is scheduled to last three (3) days

Organisation Committee

    Vlasis Koumousis
    N.T.U.A Professor

    Konstantinos Spyrakos N.T.U.A.
    Professor and director of the Earthquake Engineering Laboratory

    Jerry Podany, Head Conservator
    The J. Paul Getty Museum

The Symposium will take place at the beginning of June 2008 in
Athens, in the Benaki Museum (138 Pireos Street).

Conference languages will be Greek and English Further information
can be given at:

    vkoum<-a t->central< . >ntua< . >gr
    cspyrakos<-a t->central< . >ntua< . >gr
    +30 210 772 1180 772 1181
    Fax: +30 210 772 1182

A second announcement, which is scheduled to be released towards the
end of February 2008, will include the complete list of the
organization committee and the Symposium contributors. Furthermore,
there will be clarifications considering participation submission.


                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 21:43
               Distributed: Wednesday, February 13, 2008
                       Message Id: cdl-21-43-009
                                  ***