Call for papers--Interdisciplinarity in conservation

Call for papers

"Interdisciplinarity in conservation: Reality or fiction?"
13th Technical Meeting on conservation
Museu Nacional de Catalunya, Barcelona,
Spain
12-13 November 2012

The Grup Tecnic, the Catalan Professional Association of
Conservators is calling for papers for its next bi-annual meeting to
be held in Barcelona at the National Museum of Catalonia in 2012.
You are welcome to submit a paper proposal to participate to this
international and sunny meeting.

In the field of conservation, the term interdisciplinarity appears
for the first time through the definition of the profession in the
1984 ICOM-CC document. Fruit of the modernization of our discipline,
this concept designates its specific character, which embraces
knowledge in diverse fields: human sciences (archaeology, history of
art, ethnology, aesthetics, sociology, architecture, etc.), physical
sciences (physics, chemistry and biology) as well as the technical
expertise of conservation itself. It is by means of the
participation of specialists in all these disciplines that research
and progress is possible and that, to his time, cultural heritage
can be properly conserved and preserved for future generations.

Interdisciplinarity is also a transversal practice strengthen by the
confrontation of methods and knowledge between disciplines, always
aiming to find a consensus that allows for a correct interpretation,
conservation and value of objects. It is, however, a difficult
practice: it requires a common vocabulary and a mutual respect
between specialists. To the conservator, it requires rigor in the
reasoning and an enrichment of his knowledge so that exchange and
collaboration are fruitful.

At the Grup Tecnic we wonder if this ideal concept is nowadays a
reality in our daily practice, if it is properly integrated in the
conservation study programs and if the dialog between specialists is
done with respect and in a plane of professional equality. From a
historical point of view, we also wonder which has been--and is, at
present--the role of institutions and  professional associations in
the implementation of this collaboration. On the other hand, it
seems that interdisciplinarity has had a outstanding development in
relation with physical sciences, but can we say the same regarding
the field of human sciences? Finally, in heritage conservation,
which is the role given today to the artist, the craftsman, the
historian of techniques or the architect?

With the aim to enrich our field, in this new edition of its
Technical meeting, the Catalan Association of conservators invites
you to share your thoughts and experiences on the subject.

Abstracts: Professionals interested in submitting a paper should
send by e-mail a summary of 500 words at the most, according to the
model on our website

    <URL:http://www.gruptecnic.org>

Abstracts are accepted until March 12, 2012 (even if it has been
announced on the website until February 27, 2012).

The Scientific committee will notify the authors of the acceptance
or not of their proposals on March 19, 2012. The full text has to be
sent not after June 18, 2012, to be published as preprints.


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 25:38
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