[8] Scientists at GCI viewed the CheMin instrument aboard the Curiosity rover, currently exploring the Gale crater on Mars, as a potentially valuable means to examine ancient works of art without damaging them.
The CheMin on Curiosity directs a beam of X-rays at particles as small as 400 μm[9] and reads the radiation scattered back to determine the composition of an object in minutes.
This includes studying climate-controlled systems, monitoring pollutant levels, and developing guidelines for sustainable environmental management in museums, libraries, and archives.
Projects have focused on the development of protective coatings, cleaning methods, and maintenance strategies to mitigate the effects of weathering and pollution on sculptures.
[14] While many previously believed that the work was created all in one night, scientists at the GCI discovered that each layer of paint would have needed many days of drying time in between to maintain their structure.
[15][16] GCI was contacted by the University of Arizona because of scientist's experience and research in modern paints, including Susan F. Lake's 2010 handbook, "Willem de Kooning: The Artist's Materials".
This led to the conservation of the University's "Woman-Ochre", by Willem de Kooning that had been stolen and then recovered after the passing of a couple who had the piece hanging in their bedroom.
Conservators at Getty used their expertise to fill in cracks, remove two layers of varnish, and re-back the canvas to be closer to its original composition.
Research includes assessing structural vulnerabilities, testing retrofitting techniques and providing guidelines for the seismic protection of historic buildings.
[20] In 2020 the African American Historic Places Los Angeles began aiming to "identify, protect, and celebrate the city's black heritage."
For example, GCI collaborated with other organizations to create a course "to assist museum personnel in safeguarding their collections from the effects of natural and human-made emergencies.
"[22] Also, GCI developed a course on the "Fundamentals of the Conservation of Photographs" which is now taught in eastern Europe by the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava and the Slovak National Library.
[28] The GCI produces a range of online resources and publications that advance conservation practice including technical reports, guidelines, and proceedings that are freely accessible on the Getty website.
In addition, AATA Online is a free research database containing literature abstracts related to conservation and preservation of material cultural heritage.
AATA offers abstract access to a wide range of resources including scholarly articles, conference proceedings which are organized by material, technique, and discipline.
Among other completed GCI field projects were efforts to preserve the wall paintings inside Mogao Caves and Yungang Grottoes in China (announced in 1989);[30] to restore prehistoric Rock Paintings of Sierra de San Francisco in Baja California Sur (1994);[31][32] and to protect ancient buildings and archaeological sites in Iraq following the start of the Iraq War (2004).
[35] An air filtration system and an upgrade to the tombs infrastructure with new flooring and railings have also been added to stabilize the paintings' condition without removing visitor access.
[42] After the site was thoroughly reviewed, efforts aimed to remove asbestos, add moisture barriers and set up monitoring systems to address future concerns.