CONSERVATION SCIENCE Papers Arising from the ICCROM 2013 Forum on Conservation Science Supplement to Studies in Conservation
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Studies in Conservation, Supplement 1, 2015 ISSN 0039-3630 Studies in Conservation, Supplement 1, 2015 ISSN 0039-3630 YSIC_60_S2_Cover.indd 1-3 28/03/16 11:22 AM CONSERVATION SCIENCE Papers arising from the ICCROM 2013 Forum on Conservation Science Supplement to Studies in Conservation Director of Publications Publisher’s offi ce Joyce H. Townsend, Tate, London, UK Taylor & Francis, 4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN, UK. Supplement Editors Disclaimer Alison Heritage, ICCROM, Rome, Italy Responsibility for opinions and statements contained in the Stavroula Golfomitsou, UCL Qatar, Doha, Qatar papers is that of the authors, and not of the editors, the journal copyright owners, or the publisher. This supplementary issue of Studies in Conservation presents papers arising from the ICCROM Forum on Forum Consortium Partners Conservation Science, which was held in October 2013 in Institut Royal du Patrimoine Artistique, Belgium Rome. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais-CECOR, Brazil Canadian Conservation Institute, Canada This volume of Studies in Conservation Supplement National Heritage Center of Tsinghua University, China (ISSN 0039-3630 (print); ISSN 2047-0584 (online)) is Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Musées de published by Maney Publishing for the International Institute France, France for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (IIC), and National Research Council, Italy ICCROM (the International Centre for the Study of the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage, Cultural Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property). Heritage Administration, Republic of Korea Cultural Heritage Agency, the Netherlands Copyright © ICCROM, and the International Institute for Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, Universidade Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works 2015, MORE Nova de Lisboa, Portugal OpenChoice articles are Open Access and distributed University College London Qatar, United Kingdom/Qatar under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution AHRC/EPSRC Science and Heritage Programme, Non-Commercial License 3.0. United Kingdom National Heritage Board, Sweden Online publication Bern University of the Arts, Switzerland The full text of this volume of Studies in Conservation The Getty Conservation Institute, United States Supplement is available via Maney Online at www. Smithsonian Institution, United States maneyonline.com/sic, and via the ICCROM website at ICCROM (The International Centre for the Study of the www.iccrom.org. Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property) YSIC_60_S2_Cover.indd 4-6 28/03/16 11:22 AM Summary paper Conservation science: Reflections and future perspectives Alison Heritage1, Stavroula Golfomitsou2 1ICCROM, Rome, Italy, 2UCL Qatar, Doha, Qatar The ICCROM Forum 2013 on Conservation Science resulted in a series of recommendations for improving the relevance and impact of science within cultural heritage conservation. These recommendations are outlined in this paper. Central to the Forum recommendations is the responsibility of conservation science to provide benefit through research and innovation. This relies on shared strategic vision and good governance, to identify priority needs and align efforts accordingly. To enhance the effectiveness of conservation science research, it is imperative to adopt an approach based on needs assessment, collaboration, and sharing. However, to establish whether desired goals are being met, systematic assessment of what is delivered and how it is used is required. Evaluation tools provide a structured way to identify needs and to measure results, offering a basis for learning and improvement. A new initiative is outlined, launched by ICCROM in follow-up to the Forum, to develop a common framework for needs and outcome assessment for heritage conservation science. To achieve this will require participation and support at multiple levels, and collaboration is called for to continue and sustain this effort. Keywords: Conservation science, Heritage science, ICCROM, Evaluation methods, Needs assessment Introduction these issues. One of the ways in which it achieves this Solving problems through scientific inquiry is one of is through the organization of think-tank meetings the bedrocks of cultural heritage conservation. known as the ICCROM Fora, which provide a space Conservation science is a well-established field, never- for discussion on topics of primary concern within theless, new paradigms in science and culture and the the conservation field. For the 2013 Forum, expectations of society make it imperative to revisit ICCROM detected a critical need for reflection established approaches, especially in the ways conser- regarding the current role and future directions of vation science operates and connects within the heri- science in the field of cultural heritage conservation. tage sector and beyond. Conservation science has Through the collaboration of a consortium of 16 insti- multiple recipients and there are numerous ways, tutional partners from 14 countries who represented over and above the production of publications different types of heritage conservation, research and addressed to specialized audiences, by which these training organizations, the ICCROM Forum on various communities can engage with, shape and Conservation Science took place in Rome in October share the outcome of its endeavours. 2013. The Forum brought together participants from all regions of the world, who represented a wide variety The ICCROM Forum on conservation science of professional backgrounds and career stages, and ICCROM (The International Centre for the Study of included conservation scientists, educators, conserva- the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural tors, managers, and other conservation professionals. Property) is an intergovernmental organization with In total, 80 people were selected from the following 134 member states, created in 1956 by UNESCO. Its 27 countries: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, mandate is to promote the conservation of cultural Chile, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, heritage, moveable and immoveable worldwide. Part Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New of ICCROM’s role is to identify issues of common Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Senegal, South concern, and stimulate fundamental debate around Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Correspondence to: Alison Heritage, ICCROM, Via di San Michele 13, Netherlands, United Kingdom, and the United States. I-00153 Rome, Italy. Email: [email protected] © ICCROM, and The International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works 2015 MORE OpenChoice articles are open access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivs Licence 3.0 S2-2 DOI 10.1080/00393630.2015.1117858 Studies in Conservation 2015 VOL. 60 SUPPLEMENT 2 Heritage and Golfomitsou Conservation science: reflections and future perspectives The Forum focussed on conservation science issues, identify priority needs and align efforts accordingly, rather than a discussion of heritage science and cul- and also through the monitoring and assessment of tural heritage studies in general, and devoted itself to outcomes — a view which is also widely endorsed three key themes posed as driving questions: within the wider science sector (see for example (1) How can conservation science be of greater benefit European Commission, 2015a). to conservation practice? (2) How can conservation science contribute to wider Strategically positioning the sector societal priorities? Many of the Forum recommendations relate to (3) How can we build an integrated and impactful strengthening and strategically positioning the conser- future for science in conservation? vation science sector. The five key points are summar- More information about the organization of the ized as follows. ICCROM Forum on Conservation Science can be found in Heritage et al. (2014). Defining a shared vision and mission The Forum recommendations spoke of the need to Findings of the Forum develop a shared vision and mission statement for The Forum concluded that conservation science is an the sector to clarify its purpose and role, and place it interdisciplinary applied science domain, the primary more clearly within policy and funding frameworks. purpose of which is to support the preservation, under- standing, and sustainable use of cultural heritage, with Strategy development the goal of promoting wider societal engagement with Collaboration between producers and users of conser- heritage for current and future generations. The scope vation science knowledge is required to develop of the conservation science covers both the preser- research strategies at multiple levels (organizational, vation of the material aspects of heritage and its intan- national, regional), based on assessment and prioriti- gible values, to which end the natural, social, and zation of needs, to enhance the relevance and effective- formal sciences all have a contribution to make. ness of conservation science, and gain leverage with The Forum recommendations focus on enhancing policy makers and funding bodies. the integration, relevance, and impact of the conserva- tion science within the cultural heritage conservation Demonstrating benefit sector, and its capacity to deliver wider societal Demonstrating benefit is a priority. To attract political benefit. These recommendations are elaborated in and financial support, conservation science must the papers presented in this volume of Studies in provide