Advances and Challenges in Heritage Materials Characterization and Data Interpretation

July 7 - 12, 2024

Chairs

and

Vice Chairs

and

Les Diablerets Conference Center

Eurotel Victoria

Les Diablerets, Vaud (fr), Switzerland

Venue and Travel Information

Conference Description

The Scientific Methods in Cultural Heritage Research GRC is a premier, international scientific conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages. The conference program includes an array of speakers and discussion leaders from institutions and organizations worldwide, concentrating on the latest developments in the field. The conference is five days long and held in a remote location to increase the sense of camaraderie and create scientific communities, with lasting collaborations and friendships. In addition to premier talks, the conference has designated time for poster sessions from individuals of all career stages, and afternoon free time and communal meals allow for informal networking opportunities with leaders in the field.

The forthcoming GRC conference will provide an exciting platform for examining use-inspired basic and applied research focused on the analysis and conservation of tangible cultural heritage. The conference will explore the current issues facing cultural heritage in terms of its resilience and long-term preservation, as well as the potential adaptation of this ancient knowledge for inspiring future innovations in sustainable design in our modern society. The sessions will delve into innovative approaches for tackling the complexity of multi-scale studies of diverse heritage materials and structures, spanning from the nano- and micro- to the macro-scale. The sessions will examine various materials/object manufacturing processes within the fields of archaeology, ancient architecture, and art history, with a specific emphasis on advancements in scientific methodologies for data acquisition, data analysis, and interpretation, including artificial intelligence applications.

Related Meeting

This GRC will be held in conjunction with the "Scientific Methods in Cultural Heritage Research" Gordon Research Seminar (GRS). Those interested in attending both meetings must submit an application for the GRS in addition to an application for the GRC. Refer to the associated GRS program page for more information.

Conference Program

Sunday
2:00 pm - 9:00 pm	Arrival and Check-in
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 7:40 pm	Introductory Comments by GRC Staff / Welcome and Introduction from the Chairs
7:40 pm - 9:30 pm	Keynote Session: Protecting, Understanding the Past, and Inspiring the Future: Challenges in Heritage Science Discussion Leader:
7:40 pm - 8:00 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
8:00 pm - 8:30 pm	"Thematic Remarks"
8:30 pm - 8:45 pm	Discussion
8:45 pm - 9:15 pm	"Science in the Visual Arts: Towards a New Cosmology"
9:15 pm - 9:30 pm	Discussion
Monday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Techniques for Depth Resolved Subsurface Imaging in Turbid Media Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:10 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:10 am - 9:35 am	"The Potential and Challenges of Optical Pump-Probe Microscopy for Pigment Identification and 3D Imaging"
9:35 am - 9:50 am	Discussion
9:50 am - 10:15 am	"Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy (SORS) From Micro to Macro: Non-Invasive Chemical Analysis by Light"
10:15 am - 10:30 am	Discussion
10:30 am - 11:00 am	Coffee Break
11:00 am - 11:25 am	"Mid-Infrared OCT with Undetected Photons for Imaging High-Scattering Samples"
11:25 am - 11:40 am	Discussion
11:40 am - 11:55 am	"Confocal Imaging at 0.3 THz With Depth Resolution of a Painted Wood Artwork for the Identification of Buried Metal Foils"
11:55 am - 12:00 pm	Discussion
12:00 pm - 12:30 pm	Poster Previews
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Group Photo / Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm	Free Time
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm	The GRC Power Hour™ The GRC Power Hour™ is designed to address diversity and inclusion in the scientific workplace by providing a safe environment for informal and meaningful conversations amongst colleagues of all career stages. The program supports the professional growth of all members of our communities, including ethnicity, race and/or gender identity by providing an open forum for discussion and mentoring. Organizer:
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm	Data-Driven Research in Art and Archaeology Discussion Leader:
6:00 pm - 6:15 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
6:15 pm - 6:40 pm	"Artificial Intelligence for Art Investigation, Conservation, and Preservation"
6:40 pm - 6:55 pm	Discussion
6:55 pm - 7:20 pm	"Decoding the Past: Advancements in Scientific Approaches and Technologies for Heritage Data"
7:20 pm - 7:35 pm	Discussion
7:35 pm - 7:50 pm	"Computational Chemistry for Cultural Heritage Conservation: Molecular-Level Insights for the Improvement of Novel Marble Protective Coatings"
7:50 pm - 8:00 pm	Discussion
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm	Dinner
Tuesday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Exploring Ancient Technologies Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:10 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:10 am - 9:35 am	"Metallurgical Aspects of Wootz Steel Production"
9:35 am - 9:50 am	Discussion
9:50 am - 10:20 am	Coffee Break
10:20 am - 10:45 am	"New Directions in Optical Microscopy of Vitreous Materials"
10:45 am - 11:00 am	Discussion
11:00 am - 11:15 am	"Frozen in Time: Newly Excavated Pompeiian Construction Site Offers Insights into Ancient Roman Building Materials and Methods” Short Talk 1 Selected from GRS Eugenia Geddes da Filicaia"
11:15 am - 11:20 am	Discussion
11:20 am - 11:35 am	"Museum to University Collaboration for Access to and Development of State-Of-The-Art Mass Spectrometry"
11:35 am - 11:40 am	Discussion
11:40 am - 11:55 am	"Searching for Chia: A Proteomics Approach to New World Seed Oil Identification in Viceregal Mexican Paints and Lacque"
11:55 am - 12:00 pm	Discussion
12:00 pm - 12:30 pm	Poster Previews
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm	Free Time
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm	Exploring the Past for Modern Technological Applications Discussion Leader:
6:00 pm - 6:15 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
6:15 pm - 6:40 pm	"Blueprints of Brilliance: Deciphering Egyptian Blue's Ancient Production, Nanoscale Nuances, and Luminous Legacy for Sustainable Innovation"
6:40 pm - 6:55 pm	Discussion
6:55 pm - 7:20 pm	"Biomimetic Functionalization of Lime Mortars"
7:20 pm - 7:35 pm	Discussion
7:35 pm - 7:50 pm	"The Artisan as Producer of Knowledge: Archaeometry Meets Science History"
7:50 pm - 8:00 pm	Discussion
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm	Dinner
Wednesday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Multimodal Macro and Microscale Chemical Imaging for Technical Art History and Conservation Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:10 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:10 am - 9:35 am	"Applications of Synchrotron Micro-Analytical Techniques to the Study of Cultural Heritage: Pushing Further Instruments and Access"
9:35 am - 9:50 am	Discussion
9:50 am - 10:15 am	"Enhancing Data Interpretation in Non-invasive Investigations of Artworks: Combining Advanced X-Ray Imaging Methods and Machine Learning"
10:15 am - 10:30 am	Discussion
10:30 am - 11:00 am	Coffee Break
11:00 am - 11:25 am	"Can We Increase the Utility of Visible and Infrared Imaging Spectroscopy for Cultural Heritage Science by Considering New Instruments and Modalities?"
11:25 am - 11:40 am	Discussion
11:40 am - 11:55 am	"Smart Light: The Synchrotron in the Museum’s Cellar"
11:55 am - 12:00 pm	Discussion
12:00 pm - 12:30 pm	Poster Previews
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm	Free Time
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm	Advances in Characterization of Written Heritage Discussion Leader:
6:00 pm - 6:15 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
6:15 pm - 6:40 pm	"Why We Need Better (Software) Methods to Study Protein Remains in Cultural Heritage Materials"
6:40 pm - 6:50 pm	Discussion
6:50 pm - 7:15 pm	"Virtual Unwrapping for Textual Analysis: Twenty Five Years of Development"
7:15 pm - 7:25 pm	Discussion
7:25 pm - 7:50 pm	"Lipids From Parchments as a Novel Source of Environmental Information"
7:50 pm - 8:00 pm	Discussion
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm	Dinner
Thursday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
8:30 am - 9:00 am	Business Meeting Nominations for the Next Vice Chair(s); Complete the GRC Evaluation Forms; Election of the Next Vice Chair(s)
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Green Technologies and Materials for Cultural Heritage Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:10 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:10 am - 9:35 am	"New Green Materials for Cultural Heritage Conservation"
9:35 am - 9:50 am	Discussion
9:50 am - 10:15 am	"Green Insights in Metal Conservation: Development of Innovative Technologies Against Corrosion"
10:15 am - 10:30 am	Discussion
10:30 am - 11:00 am	Coffee Break
11:00 am - 11:25 am	"Oxygen Out of This World: Tailoring Atomic Oxygen Species by Using Low-Temperature Atmospheric Pressure Radio-Frequency Plasma for Non-Contact Green Cleaning in Cultural Heritage Conservation"
11:25 am - 11:40 am	Discussion
11:40 am - 11:55 am	"Understanding and Promoting Adsorption in Gels to Increase Removal of Stains and Degradation Products from Substrates"
11:55 am - 12:00 pm	Discussion
12:00 pm - 12:30 pm	Poster Previews
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm	Free Time
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm	Solutions for Preventive Conservation in Museums Discussion Leader:
6:00 pm - 6:15 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
6:15 pm - 6:40 pm	"Advances in Lifetime Modelling: Towards a General Theory of the Socio-Economic Benefits of Preventive Conservation"
6:40 pm - 6:50 pm	Discussion
6:50 pm - 7:15 pm	"From the Lab to the Museum: Towards Less Invasive Mass Spectrometry Approaches"
7:15 pm - 7:25 pm	Discussion
7:25 pm - 7:50 pm	"Mid-Infrared Photonics: Cultural Heritage Protection Via Good Vibrations"
7:50 pm - 8:00 pm	Discussion
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm	Dinner
Friday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am	Departure