The first steps have been taken to set up a National Heritage Science Forum to increase collaboration between conservation science and the heritage sector.
The forum is a recommendation of the National Heritage Science Strategy (NHSS), which originated from a 2006 House of Lords select committee inquiry into science and technology.
It aims to bring together museums, universities and organisations such as the National Trust to raise public awareness of heritage science.
The select committee recommended a strategy should be established after warning of a decline in heritage preservation, and that an increase in visitors to museums and environmental change had added to rates of decay.
In its initial vision and strategy document, the NHSS admitted: “Where we led the world a generation ago, the perception was that we were now lagging behind.”
A steering group has been established, chaired by Sarah Staniforth, the National Trust’s historic properties director. “We would like people to be aware that in understanding heritage, historical, documentary and archaeological research, among others, are incredibly important, but science can also contribute,” she said.
Staniforth said the NHSS needed enthusiastic people and start-up funding. Once established, meetings will be held quarterly or twice yearly.
It is also planned to highlight conservation work to the public. Staniforth said a recent event, Conservation Science Investigations Sittingbourne, by the Canterbury Archaeological Trust, was a good example of what could be achieved.
“CSI: Sittingbourne took an empty shop and used an airport X-ray machine to examine objects with members of the public, to demonstrate how conservation science could be used,” she said.
The forum is a recommendation of the National Heritage Science Strategy (NHSS), which originated from a 2006 House of Lords select committee inquiry into science and technology.
It aims to bring together museums, universities and organisations such as the National Trust to raise public awareness of heritage science.
The select committee recommended a strategy should be established after warning of a decline in heritage preservation, and that an increase in visitors to museums and environmental change had added to rates of decay.
In its initial vision and strategy document, the NHSS admitted: “Where we led the world a generation ago, the perception was that we were now lagging behind.”
A steering group has been established, chaired by Sarah Staniforth, the National Trust’s historic properties director. “We would like people to be aware that in understanding heritage, historical, documentary and archaeological research, among others, are incredibly important, but science can also contribute,” she said.
Staniforth said the NHSS needed enthusiastic people and start-up funding. Once established, meetings will be held quarterly or twice yearly.
It is also planned to highlight conservation work to the public. Staniforth said a recent event, Conservation Science Investigations Sittingbourne, by the Canterbury Archaeological Trust, was a good example of what could be achieved.
“CSI: Sittingbourne took an empty shop and used an airport X-ray machine to examine objects with members of the public, to demonstrate how conservation science could be used,” she said.
