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Museum archaeologists, conservation scientists, archivists and university researchers have taken part in a one-day workshop at the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Daresbury Laboratory to discover how the STFC’s broad range of science expertise and world leading facilities can be applied to the understanding and preservation of art and artefacts as well as to samples from immovable objects such as buildings and ships. In support of the launch of the Science and Heritage Programme funded by the Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) on 20 February 2008, the ‘Art of Hard Science’ workshop was designed to showcase STFC’s facilities to the UK's heritage researchers community and explain how the facilities can add value to their own research disciplines.

From how STFC is currently using its world leading light source facilities to help preserve the historic timbers of the Mary Rose, to why a bronze-age wooden shovel has survived so perfectly for over 4000 years in unfavourable soil conditions - delegates took part in discussions with STFC scientists involved to discover how cutting edge techniques can take heritage research into new and productive directions. Delegates were also briefed on how to gain access to STFC’s facilities and to the wealth of advice available – from deciding on an investigative technique or instrument, to help with defining an experiment and writing up a proposal for access to STFC’s facilities, to collecting, analysing and interpreting data.

World class research facilities at STFC include the Synchrotron Radiation Source, the Medium Energy Ion Scattering Facility (MEIS) and the SuperSTEM microscopes at the Daresbury Laboratory near Warrington, and the Central Laser Facility, the ISIS neutron source and the Diamond Light Source based at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire. Research can be carried out on samples of all sizes, very often employing techniques that are non-invasive and require no sample preparation.

Dr Andrew Smith at STFC said: “STFC’s scientific facilities are playing an ever increasing role in the emerging field of heritage science. Our scientists can help provide the answers to fundamental questions, whether we are performing texture analysis on a prehistoric copper axe, performing internal visualisation of a metal statue, or trying to find out how to stop a piece of parchment from degrading. We are constantly learning more and more about how science can help us to better understand historic objects and the people who made them, whilst ensuring that future generations can enjoy these artefacts and the knowledge gained about them. On the other side of the coin, researchers need to provide us with their unanswered questions and tell us what they need to know – we can then apply our expertise, or provide the research facilities, to come up with answers.”

Professor May Cassar, Director of The Science and Heritage Programme, said: “The purpose of this workshop was to learn what end-users want from large scale science facilities and what providers are able to do. We are making significant progress into encouraging a two way flow of information and learning, thus strengthening a fragmented heritage science base into an exciting and growing research community.”

For further information about the work on Heritage Science carried out at the STFC Daresbury Laboratory see http://www.srs.ac.uk/art_of_hard_science/


Images available

- ‘Art of Hard Science’ workshop group photograph
- Professor May Cassar, The Science and Heritage Programme
- STFC Daresbury Laboratory’s Dr Andy Smith giving a tour of the SRS


For further information about the Science & Technology Facilities Council:

Wendy Taylor MCIPR
Press Officer
STFC Daresbury Laboratory
Daresbury Science & Innovation Campus
Daresbury
Warrington
Cheshire
WA4 4AD

Email: w.j.taylor@dl.ac.uk
Tel Number: 01925 603232

Science and Technology Facilities Council The Science and Technology Facilities Council ensures the UK retains its leading place on the world stage by delivering world-class science; accessing and hosting international facilities; developing innovative technologies; and increasing the socio-economic impact of its research through effective knowledge exchange partnerships.

The Council has a broad science portfolio including Astronomy, Particle Physics, Particle Astrophysics, Nuclear Physics, Space Science, Synchrotron Radiation, Neutron Sources and High Power Lasers. In addition the Council manages and operates three internationally renowned laboratories:

• The Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Oxfordshire
• The Daresbury Laboratory, Cheshire
• The UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Edinburgh

The Council gives researchers access to world-class facilities and funds the UK membership of international bodies such as the European Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN), the Institute Laue Langevin (ILL), European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), the European organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO) and the European Space Agency (ESA). It also contributes money for the UK telescopes overseas on La Palma, Hawaii, Australia and in Chile, and the MERLIN/VLBI National Facility, which includes the Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank Observatory.

The Council distributes public money from the Government to support scientific research. Between 2007 and 2008 we will invest approximately £678 million.


About The Science and Heritage Programme

The Science & Heritage Programme is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and EPSRC and is supported by Research Councils UK. Taking into account the recognized research needs of cultural heritage and a recommendation in the Report of the House of Lords Science and technology Committee inquiry on Science & heritage, its dual purpose is to:
• Build capacity through opportunities for collaboration among disciplines ranging from arts & humanities to science, engineering and technology
• To fund interdisciplinary research and support training of young researchers.

Supporting an area of research that can include basic, applied and practice-based study requires close engagement among researchers, practitioners, stakeholders and the public.

The programme will provide a focus for those wishing to engage with science and heritage and ensure that knowledge is disseminated widely so that our cultural heritage is in better shape to confront the challenges of the 21st century.