Course on infrared and Raman Spectroscopy

Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy Applied to Cultural Heritage

The Department of Conservation of the University of Gothenburg
announces a PhD course in the application of FTIR and Raman
spectroscopy to problems in cultural heritage, 7.5 ECTS

Vibrational spectroscopy techniques have developed into very
suitable analytical methods for the investigation of the materials
of art and archaeology, and for designing conservation and
preservation strategies for safeguarding cultural heritage.
Commercial instruments are becoming increasingly accessible: easy to
use software packages make the instrumental set-up easy to implement
and stable bench-top instrumentation allows easy comparison of the
spectra obtained with references. Instrumental improvements will
continue to give new impetus to their application in cultural
heritage as the quality and number of mobile, fibre optic
instruments increases.

The aim of this course is to introduce Fourier-transform infrared
(FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy as valuable analytical and diagnostic
tools in art technology, archaeological science and conservation
science. The course offers a theoretical and practical introduction
to these techniques suitable for current and potential users of
these methods.

Principles, instrumentation and application of instruments will be
covered. Emphasis will be on developing the ability to solve
characterisation problems associated with cultural heritage.
Particular attention will be given to selection criteria used for
choosing the appropriate technique.

Through the use of literature examples, case studies and
participants' own materials the joint application of these
spectroscopic methods will be highlighted to show how development of
workable strategies toward characterisation and identification can
be achieved.

The course will comprise both lectures and laboratory sessions,
giving participants the opportunity to apply the principles learned.
The final emphasis for the course will be directed toward the needs
of the participants. An important part of the course is the student
project which relates the course themes to participant's PhD
project.

Location and dates: The course will be based on the premises of the
Department of Conservation, University of Gothenburg. Laboratory
demonstrations and sessions will take place at Chalmers University
of Technology.

Course period: Three one-week modules Spring term 2009: 2-6
February, 2009, 2-6 March, 2009 and 30 March - 3 April, 2009
followed by a final course seminar 14-15 May, 2009.

Target group and entry requirements: The 7.5 ECTS credits course
will be conducted in English, with the main target group being PhD
students within cultural heritage conservation and archaeological
science primarily in the Nordic countries, but also further abroad.

The course will be open to PhD students within relevant areas of
research. In the case of more than 12 applicants, the applicants
will be ranked primarily based on scientific evaluation and the
relevance of the applicants' PhD project to the topic of the course.

A list of basic FTIR and Raman literature will be provided on the
course webpage, and all participants should familiarise themselves
with this material by the start of the course.

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        forskarutbildning/pgep/
        conservation/Infrared_and_Raman_Spectroscopy/>

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PhD candidates who wish to apply for a place on the course should
submit a CV, a letter of recommendation from their supervisor, and
an extended abstract (500-1000 words) of their PhD project
suggesting the potential application of FTIR/Raman. Selected PhD
candidates will be asked to give an oral presentation, in English,
of their PhD work and research as part of the course. Deadline for
application and abstract submission is: 30. November 2008.
Notification of acceptance will be: 15 December 2008.

Application should be made to:

    Department of Conservation
    University of Gothenburg
    Box 130
    SE-405 30 Gothenburg
    Sweden

Course organisers:

    Elizabeth E. Peacock
    Department of Conservation, University of Gothenburg
    elizabeth.peacock<-a t->conservation< . >gu< . >se

    Per Jacobsson
    Department of Applied Physics, Chalmers University of
    Technology, Gothenburg
    pjacob<-a t->fy< . >chalmers< . >se

    Jonny Bjurman
    Department of Conservation, University of Gothenburg

    Ingalill Nystrom-Larsson
    Department of Conservation, University of Gothenburg

Teaching staff:

    Per Jacobsson
    Department of Applied Physics, Chalmers University of Technology

    Patrik Johansson
    Department of Applied Physics, Chalmers University of Technology

    Aleksander Matic
    Department of Applied Physics, Chalmers University of Technology

Guest lecturers:

    Ian Godfrey
    Western Australian Maritime Museum, Fremantle, Australia

    Joakim Holmlund
    Dept of Applied Physics, Chalmers University of Technology

    Sven Isaksson
    Archaeological Research Laboratory, University of Stockholm

    Anders Nilsson
    Bruker Optics Scandinavian AS, Taby

    Yvonne Shashoua
    National Museum of Denmark

    Peter Vandenabeele
    Gent University, Belgium

    (others to be announced)

Course programme:

    Week one: foundation in vibrational spectroscopy - theory and
    laboratory demonstrations; presentation of PhD projects; case
    studies

    Week two: analytical strategies for applying FTIR and Raman
    spectroscopy; individual project work; case studies

    Week three: advanced techniques; individual project work; case
    studies

    Course seminar: presentation of participants' project work


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 22:27
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                       Message Id: cdl-22-27-012
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