Former Blog of the American Institute for Conservation
Category: Grants & Scholarships
This category provides information for the membership about upcoming deadlines for national grants, funded opportunities, and awards. Descriptions of funding opportunities that are culled from other sources (announcements from newsletters, websites, etc.) are also included.
Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) is funding a scholarship, which is open to candidates accepted onto the UCL MRes in Science and Engineering in Art, Heritage and Archaeology (SEAHA).
Over the two-year period the successful applicant will spend time studying towards the MRes degree at UCL and with the HRP Conservation and Collection Care department at Hampton Court Palace, carrying out scientific research to support significant conservation projects such as the conservation of the Rubens ceiling paintings at the Banqueting House. Heritage science is an interdisciplinary research field encompasses all technological and scientific work that can benefit the heritage sector.
The scholarship covers the course fees for a UK/EU student and a stipend of UKP10,000 a year for living expenses.
We are seeking an individual who:
Is enthusiastic about science
Has strong intellectual abilities proven with the achievement of a good first degree Plans to make a career in the UK heritage sector Has a passion for history and for communicating conservation and heritage science to the public
Having completed the course, the graduate will be expected to seek employment in the UK in the first instance.
We particularly welcome black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) applicants as we consider that these groups are currently under-represented both in heritage science and within our own organisation: we believe that there should be better representation of our diverse society in this sector. HRP is committed to building an organisation that truly values the differences in people. We are an equal opportunities employer and truly value a diverse workforce.
Under funding, indicate “HRP scholarship”. In your motivation letter, please respond particularly to the above four selection criteria.
For more information please contact:
Dr Constantina Vlachou – Mogire, Senior Conservation Scientist
Email: constantina.vlachou@hrp.org.uk, Tel: 020 3166 6458
Chinese Government Scholarship Program for Graduate Students in Cultural Heritage Science at Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU) sincerely welcomes outstanding international students to join NPU and pursue graduate education in cultural heritage science. By pursuing the major of Materials Science, the students will conduct interdisciplinary research on cultural heritage from the scientific perspective, including characterizing object material and craftsmanship, analyzing degradation phenomena, and developing conservation methodologies.
Students could choose English or Chinese program. The duration of scholarship will be 3 years for master students, and 4 years for PhD students. Successful applicants will receive the stipend of 3,000 RMB/month for master students, and 3,500 RMB/month for PhD students. Besides, the tuition, dormitory housing, comprehensive medical insurance, and 1-year Chinese preparatory study (optional) will be provided for free.
Northwestern Polytechnical University is one of the 211 and 985 project universities and enjoys a highly distinguished reputation. NPU is located in Xi’an, where the Eighth Wonder of the world Terra-Cotta Warriors Museum lies in. NPU is a member of the Excellent Union 9 (E9) universities in China. NPU is an international university of science and technology, and has strong capabilities and outstanding achievements in aeronautics, astronautics and marine technology, making it very unique and distinguished from other institutions. Besides, NPU also offers well -developed programs in humanities, economics, management and law.
The program will be open every year, interested students are encouraged to contact the supervisor first via zhanyun.zhu@nwpu.edu.cn.
Dr. Zhanyun Zhu | Assistant Professor/Graduate Supervisor
Centre for Materials and Conservation Research in Archaeology/Centre for Nano Energy Materials
School of Materials Science and Engineering
Key Scientific Research Base of Conservation & Restoration for Mural as Collection and Materials Science (State Administration for Cultural Heritage)
Northwestern Polytechnical University http://teacher.nwpu.edu.cn/en/zhanyunzhu.html
Gels in Conservation Conference, October 16-18, 2017
This blog post is part of a series of observations about the London “Gels in Conservation” conference co-hosted by the Tate and IAP (International Academic Projects, Ltd). In mid-October, over the course of three days, some 41 authors presented research, techniques and ideas on gels in conservation. The talks were excellent, and I’ve focused on four that were notable for the wide range of materials treated and challenges faced. They ranged from coating/grime removal from a giant sequoia tree cross section, to dirt and varnish removal from Delacroix wall paintings, to removal of repairs from a fragile felt hat from a 18th century ship wreck, and an experiment comparing residues left behind by various gels on paper.
Sullivan’s research questions
The fourth talk I wanted to highlight is Michelle Sullivan’s “Rigid polysaccharide gels for paper conservation: a residue study” — of particular interest to me as a paper conservator. It was one of the few studies exploring quantitatively if residue is left behind by gels used in the treatment of works on paper. If so, did how does that residue impact the paper? To easily track residue on the paper samples, fluorescein dyes visible in UV light were added to the gels tested. The experiment used agarose, gellan gum and methyl cellulose gels in three different concentrations applied to three different papers for three different time periods. In addition, a few variables were added to mimic treatment, such as applying the gels through Japanese paper and clearing the gels using a damp swab. Besides surface examination, cross sections of the samples were also taken to see if the gels were penetrating the paper surface. The cross sections seemed to suggest that gellan gum was being absorbed into the paper. Sullivan found that all the gels tested left a residue, with gellan gum apparently leaving behind the most. She found that applying the gels through a Japanese paper barrier was the most effective method in minimizing residue. After oven aging for 21 days, the rag sample treated with gellan gum darkened slightly, while all the other samples did not. Sullivan proposed that the darkening might be related to the gelatin content of the rag test paper. She plans to expand her test variables and continue to build on this research. This feels like very important research and I eagerly await to results of the next phase of her work.
Gel residue experiment set-up.
This blog series is a result of receiving the FAIC Carolyn Horton grant to help me attend the conference. I would like to gratefully acknowledge the FAIC for helping make it possible for me to attend this important conference.
Gels in Conservation Conference, October 16-18, 2017
This blog post is part of a series of observations about the London “Gels in Conservation” conference co-hosted by the Tate and IAP (International Academic Projects, Ltd). In mid-October, over the course of three days, some 41 authors presented research, techniques and ideas on gels in conservation. The talks were excellent, and I’ve focused on four that were notable for the wide range of materials treated and challenges faced. They ranged from coating/grime removal from a giant sequoia tree cross section, to dirt and varnish removal from Delacroix wall paintings, to removal of repairs from a fragile felt hat from a 18th century ship wreck, and an experiment comparing residues left behind by various gels on paper.
2. Image of felt hat during treatment using gel and spider tissue to remove old repair.
Jonathan Clark’s presentation, “Revisiting a shipwrecked felt hat for Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust: a multidisciplinary approach” featured a really cool felt hat from a 1758 shipwreck. The project resulted in an unusual opportunity for collaboration between a textile and an objects conservator–both bringing needed experience to successfully treat the hat. In the past, the object had been treated aggressively with layers of synthetic materials and heavy cardboard fills. The hat was misshapen as a result of the thick repairs, making it difficult to fully see the original object. The treatment objective was to release the fragile felt hat from its past repairs and reshape it to its intended form without harming the object. Acetone softened the thick unknown adhesive, so both acetone vapor and solvent gels were used to release and reduce the adhesive. The acetone solvent gel was applied through spider tissue, a very soft and strong paper (100% manila fibers). Once in place, the spider tissue was pre-wetted with methylated spirits, then the gel was applied via spatula, which was then covered with plastic wrap to slow evaporation. Once the old repairs were removed the hat remained misshapen, to further soften the remaining adhesive holding the felt hat out of shape, it was placed in an acetone vapor environment. The softened pliable hat was then weighted and pinned to a Fosshape form, a shrinkable polyester felt, used by textile conservators to create mounts. The end result was an object that was stable and could safely be stored showing only its original materials.
Felt hat after treatment pinned to Fosshape form.
This blog series is a result of receiving the FAIC Carolyn Horton grant to help me attend the conference. I would like to gratefully acknowledge the FAIC for helping make it possible for me to attend this important conference.
Thanks to the generosity of the Getty Foundation we are able to offer a limited number of grants to enable practicing conservators to attend the IIC 2018 Congress in Turin – Preventive Conservation: The State of the Art – to be held from September 10 – 14, 2018 (see here for more information: http://iicturincongress2018.com).
Application for Getty Foundation grants to the 2018 IIC Congress is open to individuals from any country not part of Western Europe, North America, Australasia or Japan currently in employment in either a public or a private capacity and is subject to the regulations of the Getty Foundation. These grants are not available to students, nor to recipients of other IIC-managed grants related to attendance at this IIC Congress.
How to apply: There is no formal application form for these grants. Instead you will need to send to the IIC office an application made up of three things:
A brief statement (up to 250 words, in English) describing how attendance at the Congress would be of benefit to you and to conservation in your country
A copy of your current CV (curriculum vitae) with your full name and contact details / home postal address
A signed letter of support from one senior professional conservator, who should be named, with their affiliations and full contact details
Applications will be accepted in English only. Applications will be accepted by post, fax or email and should be received by the May 31, 2018 please see the contact details on the IIC web-site: https://www.iiconservation.org/node/2735.
Criteria for selection will include:
The current involvement of the applicant in conservation
The relevance of the Congress theme to her/his current work
The potential benefit to her/his career
The potential benefit to conservation of cultural heritage in her/his country.
Successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified as soon as a decision has been made. Successful applicants will be informed of the arrangements for payment of the grant.
After the congress: Successful applicants are required to submit a short report of their participation, after their return home, to IIC; this will then be sent on to the Getty Foundation.
Description of program
The Preservation and Access Education and Training program supports the development of knowledge and skills among professionals responsible for preserving and establishing access to humanities collections. Thousands of libraries, archives, museums, and historical organizations across the country maintain important collections of books and manuscripts, photographs, sound recordings and moving images, archaeological and ethnographic artifacts, art and material culture collections, electronic records, and digital objects. The challenge of preserving and making accessible such large and diverse holdings is enormous, and the need for knowledgeable staff is significant and ongoing.
Preservation and Access Education and Training grants are awarded to organizations that offer national or regional education and training programs that reach audiences in more than one state. Grants aim to help the staff of cultural institutions, large and small, obtain the knowledge and skills needed to serve as effective stewards of humanities collections. Grants also support educational programs that prepare the next generation of preservation professionals, as well as projects that introduce the staff of cultural institutions to new information and advances in preservation and access practices.
This year, we have a new special encouragement for applicants in federally declared disaster areas: Mindful of the importance of preserving cultural heritage in regions affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, as well as wildfires and mudslides in California, and recognizing the importance of planning, mitigation, and long-term recovery efforts, NEH encourages applications from-and projects that support-cultural institutions in federally designated disaster areas. Project activities can include training sessions related to recovery efforts, the development of regional mutual aid consortia, and workshops focused on emergency planning and response.
Eligibility
Any U.S. nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status is eligible (including institutions of higher education), as are state and local governmental agencies, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments. To be eligible to apply, applicants must offer national or regional education and training programs that reach audiences in more than one state.
Questions?
You may direct questions to Senior Program Officer Joshua Sternfeld. jsternfeld@neh.gov.
From prairie churches to urban cathedrals and synagogues, historic sacred places are often the oldest, and most beautiful, buildings within our communities. Grants from the National Fund for Sacred Places help to keep these places as an important part of our national cultural heritage. The Fund for Sacred Places is a comprehensive program that provides training, planning grants, and capital grants from $50,000 to $250,000 to congregations of all faiths for rehabilitation work on their historic facilities. Letters of Intent due April 17.
This blog post is the 2nd in a collection of observations about the London “Gels in Conservation” conference co-hosted by the Tate and IAP (International Academic Projects, Ltd). In mid-October, over the course of three days, some 41 authors presented research, techniques and ideas on gels in conservation. The first presentations of the first day kicked off the conference, setting the tone with intriguing philosophical, as well as practical hands-on examples of gels in conservation. The two leading conservation scientists in the field of gels, Richard Wolbers and Paolo Cremonesi, each provided an introduction to gels in conservation, what has been done historically, what is currently practiced, and thoughts for the future. Wolbers not only delivered the key note presentation, but spoke several times as collaborator for many of the talks and as a moderator. In his keynote address, Wolbers emphasized minimizing toxicity through substitution of less toxic materials and Cremonesi discussed the characteristics of agar gels and the current work being done with thermo-reversible rigid agar hydrogels.
Bottom line, it seems that the basic goal for many of the case studies that were presented is to find a way to safely use aqueous cleaning systems on water-sensitive materials without damaging the object. A tall order.
Richard Wolbers, keynote presentation, “Gels, Green Chemistry, Gurus and Guides”
Wolbers’ talk, “Gels, Green Chemistry, Gurus and Guides”, it provided an overview of gels in conservation, as well as a look towards the future, emphasized the goal of using Green chemistry, which involves less waste and is less toxic – something he has been advocating for years (here is the link to his talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGpOYaU6owE).
Wolbers said, when confronted with a treatment problem, first determine if a gel is appropriate. Gels keep the gel and its contents in contact longer with the surface; gels make local application controllable or they can serve as a poultice. Naturally, the gel used shouldn’t impact the surface medium, and it should be non-toxic and clean the object. Wolbers listed some of the advantages of solid rigid agar gels: they dissolve in water, improve surface wettability, and have surfactant properties.
Ultimately, to do the best by our objects, we as a field need to continually look to other industries for ideas. For example, the cosmetic industry utilizes green chemistry to reduce exposure to potentially harmful solvents. We need to truly understand what we want to achieve in a particular circumstance and tailor it to our object, rather than relying on a few stock recipes and applying them to all situations. As conservators we must remain agile and stay creative. To do this we must understand the underlying principles of the materials we want to use and the objects we are treating. Conservation needs to be able to gain ideas and experience from other fields, and also be able to create and engineer our own materials to give us the type of control we need.
Paolo Cremonesi, “Thermo-reversible rigid agar hydrogels: their properties and action in cleaning”
In Cremonesi’s talk, “Thermo-reversible rigid agar hydrogels: their properties and action in cleaning”, (here is the link to Cremonesi’s talk, https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=10&v=UbbxCQR4El8) he listed the advantages of agar gels: how they dissolve in water, and improve surface wettability. They have limited adhesion to the surface and, most importantly, leave behind minimal residue (as compared to gellan gum. (See M. Sullivan’s paper “Rigid polysaccharide gels for paper conservation: a residue study”). Past drawbacks of agar gels had been that they could only be applied to relatively flat surfaces. However, if the liquid gel is applied (brushed or poured on) just at the moment it starts to thicken, it can be used on a variety of surfaces, planar or not.
Thermo-reversible gels are often prepared in the microwave to prepare a homogeneous gel. When heated above 80F (Cremonesi recommended type E for its low gelling temperature) the gel is liquid and when cooled below 80F it is a solid. With increased concentration, the gel becomes stiffer which will slow the release of water from the gel. While in the liquid form it can be poured into receptacles such as a syringe body. Allowed to cool, once solid it can be kept in a “pencil” shape (this slide caused many audience members to swoon) or be cut into small plugs.
slide from Cremonesi’s presentation, grating agar plugs
At room temperature it can also be grated, with the shaving manipulated for surface cleaning. Enzymes mixed with Agar in a semi-solid state are the most effective form of the material. That said, Cremonesi said gellan gum is more appropriate for works on paper because it’s more flexible and transparent than agar.
One thing I’ve found with using gels (in my case gellan gum) is the formation of tide lines, which made me assume we were doing something wrong. According to both Wolbers and Cremonesi, I was missing a step. They talked about the importance of pre-wetting the surface to be treated with a non-polar solvent (they specifically mentioned D5, aka decamethylcyclopentasiloxane aka cyclomethicone). At first this might seem counter-intuitive: how does water work if there’s non-polar solvent in the way? Actually it’s about displacement – oil floats on water – so the water in the gel displaces the non-polar solvent to get to the surface. The non-polar solvent prevents tidelines principally by blocking capillarity. Now it’s all starting to make sense. The same principle was used by Burgio, Rivers et al (2008, Studies in Conservation) when consolidating matte paint. On this basis, any non-polar solvent (first spot tested) should work to prevent tidelines. D5 has the advantage of being a ‘green’ solvent, comes without the H&S hazards associated with hydrocarbon non-polar solvents, and is exceptionally non-polar.
This blog series is a result of receiving the FAIC Carolyn Horton grant to help me attend the conference. I would like to gratefully acknowledge the FAIC for helping make it possible for me to attend this important conference.
A couple of months have passed since I attended the London three-day conference “Gels in Conservation” co-hosted by the Tate and IAP (International Academic Projects, Ltd), better known as James (Jim) Black. You will know him from Archetype Publications; he’s the one who always remembers you.
Gels conference audience
The conference was the brainchild of Jim Black and Richard Wolbers, hatched over drinks and Indian food a few years back. They posed the idea, “wouldn’t it be great if we got all the people together working in gels? Scientists, conservators, students, etc., and shared what we know, or were working on in gels?” Apparently they were right, they weren’t they only ones who thought it was a great idea. More than 550 attendees from 39 countries attended the three-day conference. For me, and judging from fellow attendee’s responses, I can tell you it sure felt like a roaring success.
It was one of the most thoughtfully arranged symposiums I’ve ever attended. I suspect Jim Black may well be a genius and I hope other program organizers take note. There were three sessions each day, and each session started off with two or three talks about 25 or 30 minutes in length followed by several 10-minute talks. It kept things fresh and helped avoid listening fatigue. For the most part the 10-minute talks were just as informative as the longer format. At the end of each session the presenters had a panel Q&A with the audience. This gave people a chance to clarify and presenters an opportunity to add detail.
The conference was filmed/recorded, so take heart even if you didn’t get one of the sought-after tickets: you can still virtually attend, albeit slightly after the fact. Having the publication at the conference was brilliant. I can’t emphasize enough how excellent the publication is. It includes the papers from the presentations and the posters with great images. It was very helpful to listen to a talk then be able to refer to the paper immediately. Over the course of three days, some 41 authors presented research, techniques and ideas. Each day the talks were grouped together loosely by theme such as polysaccharide gel systems, which included agars, gellan gum and methyl cellulose, often compared or alone, sometimes with additives like enzymes or chelators. Day two, polysaccharide and polyacrylic gel systems, which included solvent gels, such as pemulen, and the new wave of solvents, silicone solvents. And finally, day three was entitled Novel and Multi gel treatment. Many speakers talked about trying to utilize less toxic materials as an alternative to “traditional” organic and aromatic solvents, moving toward greener alternatives. Authors shared their successes and failures, both being very informative. Many attendees, me included remarked that they really enjoyed the multi-discipline approach, learning what textile conservators and easel painting conservators are doing with the same sort of materials. It was very inspiring and informative.
The overall tone of the conference was one of hopeful optimism and desire for more research and development. Richard Wolbers spoke several times, first as the key note speaker and later as collaborator for many of the authors. He emphasized the need for conservators to look to other industries for potential products, greener or less toxic than what we use now, and to know the materials well enough to tailor them to our own specific needs for each specific treatment challenge. I came away inspired and intrigued. I have written companion blogs to this one and they will be posted in rapid succession. I hope I can convey some of what I learned and inspire you to obtain the publication and start reading. I will end with my favorite slide of the conference.
Your Plan vs. Reality.
This blog series is a result of receiving the FAIC Carolyn Horton grant to help me attend the conference. I would like to gratefully acknowledge the FAIC for helping make it possible for me to attend this important conference.
