Lecture on fungi in historic collections

Icon Ethnography Group AGM and Lecture

"Fungal Interactions with Organic Materials within heritage
    collections"
Lecture Theatre G6
Institute of Archaeology, UCL
31-34 Gordon Square
London WC1H 0PY
June 1, 2016
6:30pm

The Icon Ethnography Group presents a lecture given by Sophie Downes
on fungi encountered within historic collections and the damage that
can potentially be caused to organic materials.

After a year-long survey of 20 historic buildings around Great
Britain and Northern Ireland, the three most common species of
airborne fungi that were found in each property, during all seasons,
were selected to investigate how fungi interact with the materials
that they colonise.

The physical, chemical and mechanical changes that can occur in
fibres during the process of fungal growth were studied using a
variety of techniques, in order to gain insight into the potential
damage caused to objects.

The project will hopefully inform and influence both remedial and
preventive conservation decisions when dealing with collections
vulnerable to fungal infestation.

Sophie started out in biochemistry but converted to conservation,
specialising in textiles.  After leaving work in a private workshop,
she is now in the final year of PhD studies at Birkbeck, University
of London.  The joint funded project by the National Trust and
English Heritage is broadly looking at the fungi found within
historic buildings in Great Britain and the damage that can be
caused to collections.

After the lecture, the Icon Ethnography Group will hold its annual
AGM with a free drink reception.

The lecture and AGM will be held in the lecture theatre G6 at the

    Institute of Archaeology, UCL
    31-34 Gordon Square
    London WC1H 0PY

Please book your free tickets via Eventbrite

    <URL:http://technology-trust-news.org/6S6-47CFB-I206A0-23AEWQ-1/c.aspx>

Emilia Kingham
Conservator, UCL Public and Cultural Engagement Department
Museums and Collections Conservation Laboratory
Anatomy Building Room B12 and
Royal Free Hospital


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 29:48
                   Distributed: Tuesday, May 10, 2016
                       Message Id: cdl-29-48-009
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