Re: Vinod's research talk

[Alison Wain <alison@orac.net.au>]

Note from moderator: This is the next of Vinod's documents to the list
forwarded for information by Carmel. The literature survey (referred to
in this document as Appendix 1) is very long so will be sent in a third
message. Appendices 2 and 3 is the survey of current research which has
already been sent out through the list.

Our heritage is
all that we know of ourselves;

what we preserve of it, our only record.

That record is our beacon in the darkness of time;

the light that guides our steps.

Conservation is the means by which we preserve it.

. . . It is a commitment not only to the past,

but to the future.


PHILIP WARD,

The Nature of Conservation: A Race Against Time



Definition of Conservation Research


Conservation research produces new knowledge to further conservation.
Using accepted research methodologies, it provides new information
publishable in a peer reviewed publication. It could be in examination,
documentation, treatment, stabilization or prevention of
deterioration.


(The definition below expands on each of the terms from above, and are
from the American Institute of Conservation)


Conservation: The profession devoted to the
preservation of cultural property for the future. Conservation
activities include examination, documentation, treatment, and
preventive care, supported by research and education.

Examination: The investigation of the structure, materials, and
condition of cultural property including the identification of the
extent and causes of alteration and deterioration.

Documentation:The recording in a permanent format of information
derived from conservation activities.

Treatment: The deliberate alteration of the chemical and/or
physical aspects of cultural property, aimed primarily at prolonging
its existence. Treatment may consist of stabilization and/or
restoration.

Stabilization: Treatment procedures intended to maintain the
integrity of cultural property and to minimize deterioration.

Preventive Conservation: The mitigation of deterioration and
damage to cultural property through the formulation and implementation
of policies and procedures for the following: appropriate environmental
conditions; handling and maintenance procedures for storage,
exhibition, packing, transport, and use; integrated pest management;
emergency preparedness and response; and
reformatting/duplication.



Background


The Conservation profession is well established in Australia and has
nearly 300 recognised conservation professionals. A majority of them
are employed in public institutions. The number of conservators in
private practice has been growing over the past few years.


There are about 30 Commonwealth and State cultural institutions which
have a

conservation department.  There are a large number of private
conservation organisations  active in Australia. Two of them, ie.
International Conservation Services  and Artlab Australia employ more
than 10 conservators.


Most of the conservation research is undertaken by conservators. There
are only three institutions (Australian Museum, Australian War Memorial
and Western Australian Maritime Museum) which have a position
classified as a Conservation Scientist. In addition there are a few
conservation scientists in private practice. There is no collaborative
conservation research centre which has a specific national mandate
funded by the Commonwealth government or the Australian Research
Council. There are two internally recognised centres that pursue
conservation research i.e. Cultural Heritage Research Centre
(University of Canberra) and Research Centre for Materials Conservation
and the Built Environment (Australian Museum)


There are 37 universities in Australia.  Museum Studies programs is at
Sydney University, Deakin University, Curtin University, University of
Canberra and Charles  Sturt University.

Arts Management programs are  at Deakin, University of New South Wales,
and University of South Australia. Art Curatorship courses are at
Melbourne University  and Australian National University? Both Sydney
University and Melbourne University have Built Environment Courses.


The University of Canberra has a Masters and Doctorate level program in
conservation. The University of Western Sydney has a Masters level
program in Materials Conservation and Archaeological Sciences, which is
part of the Department of Chemistry. There are also a number of
students pursuing conservation research in various universities who are
pursuing higher studies in various scientific disciplines.


The encouraging statistics for conservation research is the leadership
role that museums in Australia have taken in the area of scientific
research. A number of museums including the South Australian Museum,
The Australian Museum, the Museum and Art Gallery of Northern
Territory, The Museum of Victoria and the Western Australian Museum
have a large number of established researchers on staff who publish
regularly in pure science journals.


Publications and Organisations


The AICCM has a special interest group with a focus on conservation
science. The bulletin published also by AICCM is the only peer reviewed
journal for conservation science. Both the bulletin and the special
interest group have been struggling which in some ways reflects the
lack of research that is happening in Australia.


There was an attempt to setup a mailing list called "Ozcons" which was
focussed on Australian Conservation Research. The discussion list
garnered such a low membership that the moderator, Alison wain from the
Maritime Museum has expressed an interest to widen the focus of the
discussion list if that has to survive.



Surveys


A literature survey was conducted by Amanda Pagliarino (Queensland
Museum). The results are attached as appendix 1. For narrowing the
search, the term research has been confined to scientific study and
other investigative techniques yielding new information. Conservation
research of relevance is considered to be that which has been
undertaken in Australia and that which relates to conservation activity
within Australia. The scope of the survey includes research published
between 1990 - 1999.


Vinod Daniel (Australian Museum) undertook a survey on research that is
being pursued by institutions in Australia. The survey lists all
conservation research projects that are currently being pursued, or is
being planned  in the next few months. The raw output from the surveys
is attached as Appendix 2, and a version breaking the projects into
various specialities is attached as Appendix 3.


Research Strengths

Gaps

Priorities

Literature Survey of Australian Conservation Research


Qualification:

The term research has
been confined to scientific study and other investigative techniques
yielding new information.



Conservation research
of relevance is considered to be that which has been undertaken in
Australia and that which relates to conservation activity within
Australia.


The scope of the
survey includes research published between 1990 - 1999.


Limitations:




The survey has been
limited in part by the use of the 1999 AICCM Membership
Directory as a tool for identifying Australian conservators
and professionals in allied fields, when searching international
journals.


Sources
searched:



Australian
-

AICCM National
Newsletter

Art Bulletin of
Victoria

Australian
Anthropology

Australian
Archaeology

Australian Journal of
Science / Australasian
Science

Australian
Nature

Bulletin, Australian
Institute for the Conservation of Cultural
Material

Chemistry in
Australia

In Place, a cultural
heritage bulletin

Museum
National

various published
books


International
-

Abby
Newsletter

American Institute for
Conservation, Special Interest Group
Papers

Chemistry and
Industry

Conservator, United
Kingdom Institute for
Conservation

Curator

ICOM-CC Triennial
Meetings 9th 10th 11th (12th
incomplete)

ICOM-CC various
publications

Institute for Paper
Conservation

Journal of the
American Institute for
Conservation

Museum
International

Museum
News

Museums
Journal

Sculpture
Review

SPNHC various
publications

Studies in
Conservation

Technology and
Conservation

United Kingdom
Institute for Conservation, Special Interest Group
Papers


Databases
-

Uncover

ICCROM
library

Getty Conservation
Institute library

BCIN

Statistics:

The literature survey
produced a total of 176 articles covered by the qualifications of the
search.  These articles have been broken down into broad specialisation
areas and sub-specialisations for the calculation of statistical
data.



Specialisations

research carried out (%)

Sub-specialisations

research carried out (%)

Environment

antarctic 3

tropical 1

Insect & biodeterioration 10.5

insects & pests 8

mould & fungi 2.5

Monuments & Architecture 4.5

manuals 2

other 2.5

Objects 12

ethnography 5.5

glass, ceramic, stone 2.5

issues 1

miscellaneous materials 2

synthetic 1

Objects - metals 13.5

coatings & inhibitors 4.5

corrosion analysis/treat.  7

metal analysis .5

treatment 1.5

Objects - waterlogged 5.5

miscellaneous materials 2

wood 3.5

Paintings 12

materials & techniques
7.5

treatment 4.5

Paper 11

issue 2.5

material & technique 5.5

treatment 3

Rock art 3.5

analysis 2.5

general .5

manuals .5

Textiles 4.5

analysis 2

treatment 2.5

Training & Policies 10

policy issues 5

training issues 5

Non-specific 9

analysis 3

health & safety 1

issues 4

manuals 1

Origin and type of publications %

National publications 55

International publications 45

Conservation publications 75

Other publications 25