Towards science-based conservation of objects of cultural heritage
Cultural heritage is one of central constituents of human life and activity. It is the material and spiritual legacy inherited from previous generations, maintained at present for the benefit of future generations. This is done because it determines our culture and identity developed throughout the ages as a result of inter-human and human-environment interactions. Exposed to degradation by aging, but now also accelerated by the pollution and ever increasing tourism, the artifacts of cultural heritage to be maintained need conservation. For the traditional conservation to be truly effective now it has to make use of sciences and their advanced analytical techniques. These allow the detrimental chemical and physical transformations that has occurred and can continue to occur in the objects to be identified and more importantly, to be counteracted. In this context, the Faculty of Chemistry of the Jagiellonian University has in its offer a postgraduate course of study in Modern analytical techniques for the conservation of the objects of cultural heritage. Addressed to conservators, archaeologists, museum curators, librarians, archivists, members of local governments in charge of historic sites, researchers, and everyone interested, the course is a platform for interdisciplinary art conservation science.
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