Conservation scientist
Conservation scientists conduct applied scientific research and techniques to determine the material, chemical, and technical aspects of cultural heritage.
The main responsibility of a conservation scientist is to provide analytical and technical support for the preservation and restoration of cultural objects using scientific analysis and techniques.
Each task is properly documented by conservation scientists with such information as composition, condition, history, and suggested treatments.
The information yielded about the object’s material composition aids in the development of preventive conservation measures- such as lighting and humidity controls-and the selection of appropriate restoration treatments.
[2] Such studies, called technical art history, can provide insight into the time period of an object, its authenticity, the artist, and previous restoration treatments.
[7] Non-destructive techniques are favored by conservation scientists so to preserve the originality, integrity, and current state of the object as much as possible.
In these cases, microscopic fragments are removed from the object- rarely visible to the naked eye- and their original location is documented.
The scientific and ethical demands of a conservation scientist require a variety of instruments- taken from mainstream science and slightly modified- in order to conduct their research properly.
[20]This survey demonstrates that there is no worldwide consensus on the type and amount of education and training needed to become a conservation scientist, resulting in regional and institutional variations.
In fact, a doctoral degree is becoming an increasingly common requirement for even entry-level conservation science positions.
[21] The Northwestern University-Art Institute of Chicago Center for Scientific Studies (NU-ACCESS) is one example of an Andrew W. Mellon funded fellowship.
[23] As a unique mixture of academic disciplines, conservation scientists may join an assortment of professional organizations to suit their varied needs and specializations.
Exhibition designers, architects, and collection managers also consult with conservation scientists to ensure that environmental conditions are suitable for the objects while either in storage or on display.
The two groups of scientists, along with instrument manufactures, also collaborate "to develop and adapt new non-invasive analytical techniques.
