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- Next NHSF members' meeting - Impact!
- NHSF's work to deliver the strategic framework for heritage science
- British Science Week- call for blog contributions
- 'Grand Challenges' for heritage science research
- Kit-Catalogue Kit-Catalogue - list your kit, or search for kit
- Want to shout about your work? Let us help!
- Heritage Counts 2019 published
- Survey- New Centre for Cultural Value
- Society of Antiquaries Research Reports available as Open Access
- Andrew W. Mellon Program- 'An International Research Infrastructure for Heritage Science'
- Plastics in Peril Conference
- Workshop- Putting cultural institutions to work to address climate change
- Event- 'heritage Apprenticeships: Meet the training providers'
- Job Opportunity! - Post-Doctoral Researcher in Art Conservation
- Job Opportunity!- Professor and Head of the Department of Conservation of Works of Art at Courtauld Institute of Art
- Join the Forum!
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1. Next NHSF members' meeting - Impact!
Our next Members' Meeting will be held on 6th March at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh. The meeting will focus on the 'impact' strand of the strategic framework for heritage science in the UK.
This strand of the strategic framework has five outcome areas that contribute to the over-arching goal of increased social and economic impact of heritage science:
- Improved innovation and commercial application of research
- Strategic relationships between business and research organisations
- Better discoverability of research and data to enable re-purposing
- Evidence of social and economic impact
- Increased effectiveness of wellbeing interventions
NHSF trustees agreed that the Forum's initial focus for this strand should be on 'better discoverability of research and data to enable re-purposing' and 'evidence of social and economic impact'.
The member meeting on the 6th March will explore the social and economic value and impact of heritage science. A number of short case studies will be used to illustrate different methods of demonstrating social or economic impact. Forum members will discuss who they want to communicate impact to, what evidence will enable them to demonstrate impact, and how this evidence can be collected. We're aiming for some broad consensus!
If you are a member of an NHSF member organisation and would like to attend this event (11.30-13.00, 6th March) please contact Caroline Peach, administrator@heritagescinceforum.org.uk.
The successful delivery of the strategic framework will involve contributions from beyond NHSF's membership. We are collecting information on activities from across the heritage science community that address the strategic outcomes above through our 'padlets'. Please add links to projects, publications, or notes on activity that you know of that helps to deliver against the outcomes here: Demonstrable social and economic impact
We have a small number of places available for people from organisations that are interested in joining the Forum and would like to see how NHSF works in practice. Please contact Caroline Peach if you are interested in taking part.
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2. NHSF's work to deliver the strategic framework for heritage science
We have recently reorganised our website so that it better aligns to the themes of the strategic framework for heritage science in the UK.
In our ‘what we do’ section, you'll find a new sub-page for each strand of the framework: research, community and impact.
On these pages, we've added the past and current work of NHSF that relates directly to these strands, and we'll continue to add future work so that the pages become a complete overview of how we are working to deliver against the outcomes of the strategic framework.
Please have a look at the new pages and let us know your feedback. We would also really appreciate members sharing heritage science relevant images with us to use on the NHSF website. You can send them to administartor@heritagescienceforum.org.uk
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3. British Science Week- call for blog contributions
In 2020, British Science Week runs from 6th to 15th March. This year we will once again post a series of blogs throughout the week about heritage science.
We are particularly keen to feature the work of Forum members so please let us know of things you are doing that you would like to showcase. This could be an event you're putting on as part of British Science Week itself - or a post that gives an insight into a project or your daily work.
British Science Week tends to have a particularly strong connection with schools so if you have worked with schools on heritage projects in the past, that would make for an ideal blog post!
We'll promote the blog posts through our other social media channels too during BSW and it's good to be able to link heritage science into a high profile and cross-UK event like this.
We welcome contributions until 6th March, please email suggestions to administrator@heritagescienceforum.org.uk
You can see examples of previous posts on the blog here and find our blog contribution guidelines here.
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4. 'Grand Challenges' for heritage science research
In our January newsletter I promised to keep you up to date with the evolving work of the NHSF 'Research' working group on scoping 'Grand Challenges' for heritage science research.
The group met towards the end of January to discuss emerging themes for Grand Challenges: Wellbeing, Sustainable development, Climate Change and Digital Society have been offered up as potential topics. The group discussed whether these are the right themes, how they link to bigger issues and where the potential for partnerships beyond the heritage science community lie.
The group discussing wellbeing narrowed the focus away from physical wellbeing towards emotional connections and how heritage science can help to unlock stories from within objects and other heritage assets that contribute to wellbeing in terms of people's connections with place, history and heritage assets - through a more inclusive interpretation and understanding of history. Discussions around the sustainable development theme encompassed conversations about the UN sustainable development goals and how most Forum members are likely to have sustainability goals - so understanding what people are doing and where the greatest contribution of heritage science lies will be important in defining the challenge. The climate change group reflected on two sides to the way that heritage science can contribute to debates around cultural heritage and climate change - where heritage can be interpreted as a barrier to achieving low carbon practices (think air conditioning etc.) or conversely, part of the solution (think historic building practices with low energy demands). The group that focused on digital society questioned whether greatest relevance and ambition comes from focusing on research that will generate practical ways of accessing data, or in finding new ways to connect and re-use data that will make it useful and relevant to people.
The next step is to articulate the themes clearly and then to test the relevance of different themes both within and beyond the heritage science community.
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5. Kit-Catalogue - list your kit, or search for kit
A reminder that NHSF members can add items to our Kit-Catalogue. The initiative facilitates collaboration and best use of existing resources by enabling member organisations to list their equipment and facilities for wider use while stipulating under what circumstances they can be used.
Anyone can search the catalogue - and we've produced some FAQs for both 'listers' and 'searchers' of the Kit-Catalogue
Read more here.
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6. Want to shout about your work? Let us help!
We want the newsletter to be a platform to promote the heritage science work of all our members. If you are working on something exciting that you would like to share, please do let us know so we can include it in our future newsletters. Suggestions should be sent to administartor@heritagescienceforum.org.uk
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7. Heritage Counts 2019 published
Historic England has published ‘Heritage Counts 2019’. Every year Heritage Counts is an important source of evidence for the sector, and this year it has focused on Heritage and the Economy. Some of the key findings are:
- The heritage sector produces a total GVA of £31 billion and provides over 464,000 jobs.
- It is estimated that 11% of firms in the heritage sector have a skill gap in their workforce, and that 6% operate with at least one skill shortage.
- 35% of UK citizens “totally agree” that the presence of cultural heritage influences their choice of holiday destinations.
You can read the report in full here.
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8. Survey- New Centre for Cultural Value
The new Centre for Cultural Value, based at the University of Leeds, will bridge a gap between academic study and cultural practice. It is currently conducting a survey to ensure that it will be as relevant as possible to those working in the arts and cultural sector. There is also a consultation event taking place at the University of Leeds on 19 March where attendees can help build the future of the Centre.
Take the survey here and book to attend the consultation here.
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9. Society of Antiquaries Research Reports available as Open Access
The Society of Antiquaries has made fully available as Open Access almost half of its Research Report titles via the Archaeology Data Service (ADS). Access them here.
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10. Andrew W. Mellon Program- 'An International Research Infrastructure for Heritage Science'
Applications are invited for the Andrew W. Mellon Program ‘An International Research Infrastructure for Heritage Science’. The program will fund six one-year Research Associate positions for ECRs working on the material aspects of cultural heritage who have an open mind and a strong interest in interdisciplinary collaboration. Projects will focus on:
- scientific breakthroughs that have transformed the way in which objects are interpreted and conserved;
- the main problems and challenges facing the field that heritage science can help solve;
- the harmonisation of terminology for degradation phenomena and conservation methods.
The research associates will begin in September 2020 and each will visit the ICOM-CC triennial meeting in Beijing to kickstart their projects. Find out more here.
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11. Plastics in Peril Conference
There is still time to book for the Plastics in Peril Conference, taking place 16-18 March in Cambridge. It will address the question- 'Are museums facing a plastics conservation time bomb?' and will discuss the instability of plastic artefacts, particularly mass produced items found in scientific, industrial and social history collections. Attendees will hear experts outline their approaches to the conservation of plastics. Book your place here.
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12. Workshop- Putting cultural institutions to work to address climate change
A two-day practical workshop on addressing climate change through museum collections, exhibitions and events, is taking place in Liverpool, between the 25th and 26th of March. It is aimed at non-specialists and will provide practical tools for helping you make ‘better use of your institution’s exhibitions and collections to promote effective education and awareness programmes around climate change’.
The workshop is organised by the consultancy Curating Tomorrow, in conjunction with World Museum, Liverpool. Book your place here.
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13. Event- 'Heritage Apprenticeships: Meet the training providers'
'Heritage Apprenticeships: Meet the training providers' is taking place 27 February in London. It will offer the opportunity for potential hosts to meet with training providers to find out more about specific programmes. Programme designers will also help you understand how delivering heritage apprenticeships could help benefit your organisation. Book your free place here.
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14. Job Opportunity! - Post-Doctoral Researcher in Art Conservation
The Department of Art Conservation at the University of Delaware is adverting for a post-doctoral researcher in the field of conservation science to work at Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library in partnership with the University of Delaware. The appointment is fixed term for one year, beginning 1 September 2020, with the option for a further one-year renewal.
The researcher will work with scientists, conservators, curators, and conservation and material culture fellows at Winterthur and the University of Delaware on research projects utilising a broad range of materials from the collections of Winterthur Museum and Library. Fifty percent of the time will be dedicated to a research project(s) and the researcher will also be expected to teach within their area(s) of expertise. They will also be expected to engage with academic and public audiences on a regular basis through museum and university educational programs, tours, outside lectures, and social media.
The successful candidate will need to have been awarded a PhD in Chemistry, Materials Science or other Physical Science within the last five years. A review of applications will begin after March 15, 2020 and will continue until the position is filled. More details about the role and how to apply can be found here.
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15. Job Opportunity!- Professor and Head of the Department of Conservation of Works of Art at Courtauld Institute of Art
The Courtauld Institute of Art is looking to recruit a Professor and Head of the Department of Conservation of Works of Art. The successful candidate will be a leading figure of authority in the field of conservation of works of art/conservation science and will be suitably qualified to lead the transformation and development of teaching and research in these areas. They will develop a research strategy with staff to create a stronger profile for conservation; attract students to programmes of study; and build links with internal colleagues and external professional and funding agencies.
The successful candidate should have a strong profile of engagement with research and practical conservation; a strong track record in publication; and an understanding of teaching, curriculum design and academic administration
Applications close at midnight on Monday 9 March. A more detailed job description can be found here.
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16. Join the Forum!
NHSF brings together people working in many different areas of heritage science. As a Forum, organisations (and the individuals who work or study there) benefit from learning from each other and working together to maximise the opportunities presented to the field of heritage science, or tackling the challenges that face it.
To find out more about the Forum and how to join please contact Caroline Peach, administrator@heritagescienceforum.org.uk or see www.heritagescienceforum.org.uk.
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