Email digest for the Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList) egroup. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Extended to 21 April-2 graduate research opportunities-The See Yup Temple: Chinese Australian collections, recovery, conservation 2. URGENT: ICOM-CC 2026 Oslo – Early Bird Deadline (May 15) 3. RE: Inquiry: Archaeological Paper Materials from Mass Grave 4. Quarantine process for new acquisitions 5. Polarized Light Microscopy Workshop 6. Summer Internship - Preventive Care/Preservation/Conservation, The Preservation Society of Newport County ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.From: Nicole Tse Posted: Monday April 13, 2026 6:56 AM Subject: Extended to 21 April-2 graduate research opportunities-The See Yup Temple: Chinese Australian collections, recovery, conservation Message: Extended due date Project Summary The University of Melbourne has been awarded ARC DP funding to explore Asian Australian heritage, material culture, cultural conservation, and disaster recovery in living cultural contexts. The program brings together an international interdisciplinary team of leading experts in conservation and art history to explore 1) Migrant heritage and living processes; 2) Disasters and site recovery; and 3) Materiality and Chinese Australian collections. Our team is seeking two graduate researchers who are interested in undertaking the following PhD projects in: Project 1: Migrant Heritage, Living Processes and Folk ArtProject 2 Chinese Australian migrant heritage, cultural conservation, and disaster recovery These graduate researchers will work closely with the chief investigators and researchers in the Robert Cripps Institute for Cultural Conservation (Cripps Institute), and School of Culture and Communications, both in the Faculty of Arts. How to Apply To start the EOI process, please submit the Expression of Interest form by Tuesday 21 April 2026 (extended date): Interested applicants are encouraged to submit their application as early as possible. For further details on the application process see: https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/opportunity/1673-the-see-yup-temple--chinese-australian-collections--recovery--conservation--2-graduate-research-opportunities <https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/opportunity/1673-the-see-yup-temple--chinese-australian-collections--recovery--conservation--2-graduate-research-opportunities> Project funding details 2026 ARC Discovery Project DP260101414 'The See Yup Temple: Chinese Australian collections, recovery, conservation' with Assoc. Prof. Nicole Tse (Lead CI), Prof. Tonia Eckfield, Dr Simon Soon, Dr Caroline Kyi, Professor Dr Zhanyun Zhu; Assoc. Professor Huan YANG with Research Assistant Dr Sophie Couchman. Questions Nicole Tse, [email protected] <[email protected]> Further information Bringing living traditions to life at See Yup Temple <https://arts.unimelb.edu.au/crippsinstitute/news/bringing-living-traditions-to-life-at-See-Yup-Temple>, 25 Feb 2026 Robert Cripps Institute for Cultural Conservation wins global UNESCO award for innovative heritage education <https://about.unimelb.edu.au/news-resources/awards-and-achievements/awards-and-prizes/2025-global-award-for-world-heritage-education-innovative-case-awheic-by-unesco>, 27 Nov 2025 Cripps Institute students honoured with AICCM outstanding volunteer award for See Yup Temple recovery work <https://arts.unimelb.edu.au/crippsinstitute/news/cripps-institute-students-honoured-with-aiccm-outstanding-student-volunteer-award-for-see-yup-temple-recovery-work>, 17 Nov 2025 Recovery and Conservation Learning - See Yup Temple <https://www.seeyuptemple.com.au/news/recovery-and-conservation-learning> , November 224 We acknowledge the See Yup Temple Recovery Project, the See Yup Temple, See Yup Society and community who have support our important collaboration, and acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands in which we work, and pay respects to the Elders, past and present. 2.From: Kate Seymour Posted: Monday April 13, 2026 6:56 AM Subject: URGENT: ICOM-CC 2026 Oslo – Early Bird Deadline (May 15) Message: Dear ConsDistList Members I hope this email finds you well. As we approach the final countdown for the 21st ICOM-CC Triennial Conference in Oslo (September 1418, 2026), we are officially one month away from the Early Bird registration deadline on May 15. To ensure your members can take advantage of the significant registration discounts, could you please help us spread the word by: Forwarding the announcement below to your membership mailing list or including it in your next newsletter.Sharing our "One Month to Go" post on your official LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook channels.The Triennial remains the premier global event for our field, and with this year's focus on "Cultural Connections in Conservation," we want to ensure as many practitioners, scientists, and students as possible can join us in Oslo for the "Norwegian Miracle." Direct Links for Sharing Registration Page: https://icom-cc2026.org/registration/ <https://icom-cc2026.org/registration/>Conference Program: https://icom-cc2026.org/program/ <https://www.google.com/search?q=https://icom-cc2026.org/program/> Suggested Copy for Newsletter/Social Media Only ONE MONTH to go! The Early Bird deadline for the ICOM-CC 21st Triennial Conference in Oslo is May 15, 2026. Join the global conservation community this September to explore the new Viking Museum, Munch Museum, the National Museum, and groundbreaking research across 21 Working Groups. Don't wait-secure the best rates today! Register here: https://icom-cc2026.org/registration/ <https://icom-cc2026.org/registration/> (I have attached a high-resolution social media graphic to this email for your use and a link to a short video https://drive.google.com/open?id=1TDRUnStfgyjbU3PUsptmyKXgxATDmIoJ&usp=drive_fs <https://drive.google.com/open?id=1TDRUnStfgyjbU3PUsptmyKXgxATDmIoJ&usp=drive_fs> .) Thank you for your continued support in connecting the global conservation community. We look forward to seeing [Organization Name] represented in Oslo! With warm regards, Kate Kate SeymourArt Conservation Education Preserving Heritage, Shaping Tomorrow Cultivating Expertise, Safeguarding Cultural Treasures. Email: [email protected] <[email protected]>Website: www.art-conservation-education.com <http://www.art-conservation-education.com> 3.From: Madžida Smajkić Posted: Monday April 13, 2026 6:57 AM Subject: RE: Inquiry: Archaeological Paper Materials from Mass Grave Message: Dear colleagues, Thank you all very much for your thoughtful and generous responses. I truly appreciate the time and care you took to share your experience and suggestions. Your insights regarding irradiation, freezing, and careful handling of mold-affected materials are extremely valuable, as well as the references and ideas related to imaging and interdisciplinary collaboration. I would just like to briefly clarify one point. I have not personally examined the material yet. My inquiry was made on behalf of a colleague at the Memorijalni centar Srebrenica, who is a newly appointed conservator with a background in chemistry. My intention was to gather expert perspectives in advance, in order to better support him and to confirm my initial thinking regarding a cautious, preventive approach. In any case, your responses have been incredibly helpful and meaningful, and I am very grateful for your support. With kind regards, Madida Smajki ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 4/10/2026 6:08:00 AM From: Simon Green Subject: RE: Inquiry: Archaeological Paper Materials from Mass Grave Dear Madzida It is not often that a conservator is engaged in such important human and legal research and I very much respect what you are doing. Apart from stabilising the moisture content your main concern is to stop any further biological degradation. Many years ago, we had a large batch of flax pulp which was damp and had active fungal growth. After quite a lot of research we put the whole lot through a food irradiation facility which killed the fungi without significant affect on the cellulose. We took advice of the best dose that would not break down the chain length of cellulose by more than a minimal amount. I think we used gamma irradiation but there are quite a lot of options as outline at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_irradiation There is plenty more more formal research on line. Our issue did not have the concerns that you would have about security of the material but you could probably deal with this by close supervision of the contractor and transport. You may also be concerned about the effect of any other biological evidence within the materials but I cannot make an suggestions on that. I hope that this important work proceeds successfully. ------------------------------ Simon Barcham Green Maidstone ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 04-09-2026 09:31 From: Madžida Smajkić Subject: Inquiry: Archaeological Paper Materials from Mass Grave Dear colleagues, I am a paper conservator working at the Gazi Husrev-beg Library in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. We have recently established cooperation with the Memorial Center Srebrenica, which holds a very specific and sensitive type of material. They are dealing with paper documents (letters, notes) that were recovered from mass graves related to the events of July 1995. These materials were found in direct contact with soil, moisture, and decomposition-related substances. To this day, new remains are still being discovered, which is why such items are considered evidentiary material. The material is extremely fragile and shows signs of biological activity (mold/microorganisms). Additionally, due to its evidentiary nature, any interventive treatment is highly restricted. At this stage, the primary concern is how to stabilize and safely store such material, without compromising its integrity or potential forensic value. We are currently in the assessment phase and no treatments have been undertaken. I would be grateful if you could advise: whether there are conservators or institutions with experience in archaeological or highly degraded paper from similar contexts, or any guidelines/references relevant to this type of material. Any direction or contact would be greatly appreciated. Kind regards, Madzida Smajkic 4.From: Ellen Dutton Posted: Monday April 13, 2026 6:57 AM Subject: Quarantine process for new acquisitions Message: Dear Colleagues, In Cultural Collections at the University of Leeds, we have frequent new acquisitions which we quarantine for four weeks before they can be catalogued and taken into our stores. We usually bag the boxes things arrive in, with the lids off, and place a pest trap on the contents of the boxes. The box is then secured in a large polythene bag and taped shut with parcel tape, but this creates quite a lot of waste with the tape being thrown away once used. After a few uses, the bags also start to get a bit torn and can easily get holes in. We looked at using Really Useful Boxes as an alternative because these are very sturdy, have strong clasps, and we have loads of them already, but unfortunately the lids aren't airtight. We were wondering what other people might use for this scenario - is there a way that people have adapted RUBs? Is there a different type of airtight box which has been used that anyone can recommend? Should we stick with using bags and parcel tape as this can be more flexible, even though it produces more waste? Any suggestions would be much appreciated! Many thanks ------------------------------ Ellen Dutton Conservation Technician Leeds University Library Cultural Collections and Galleries ------------------------------ 5.From: Sarah Saetren Posted: Monday April 13, 2026 10:46 AM Subject: Polarized Light Microscopy Workshop Message: The Foundation for Advancement in Conservation (FAIC) is excited to announce the Polarized Light Microscopy workshop <https://learning.culturalheritage.org/products/polarized-light-microscopy-2026> taking place July 27-31, 2026, at SUNY Buffalo, in Buffalo, New York. The workshop will be led by Kirsten Moffitt and Aaron Shugar. This workshop will provide participants with an intensive hands-on re-introduction to the theory and practice of Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM), focusing on historic pigments found in heritage objects. PLM is an important tool for the study of cultural heritage objects, but its effective use is dependent on the skill and experience of the user. During this workshop, attendees will be reacquainted with the polarizing light microscope and refresh their microscopy knowledge and skills through lectures and hands-on exercises to recognize key optical and morphological properties of pigments, such as relative refractive index, pleochroism, and anisotropy. Participants will move beyond pigment references and work through unknowns collected from actual artifacts to reflect 'real world' applications encountered in conservation practice. Participants will collect samples from heritage objects, prepare those samples for microscopic examination, identify unknowns, and learn how best to document their results. Case-study lectures will explore actual projects in which PLM played a pivotal role. The limitations of PLM and the application of supplementary analytical techniques will also be discussed. Participants will receive a small slide reference set for use during class, printed and digital reference materials, as well as a packet of self-teaching worksheets designed for future use. During the workshop, attendees will have the opportunity to prepare a pigment reference set to take home. This workshop is designed to be a safe space for conservation professionals to refresh their microscopy skills, re-train their eye, and better articulate their findings. Participants will come away with a refreshed understanding of PLM, its relevance to the study of art materials, and the confidence to apply this critical technique to their own work. Interested individuals must apply by May 8, 2026: https://learning.culturalheritage.org/products/polarized-light-microscopy-2026 <https://learning.culturalheritage.org/products/polarized-light-microscopy-2026> The registration fee is $760 for AIC members, $912 for non-members. Free registration and a $1,000 travel stipend will be provided to a limited number of participants upon request in their application. ------------------------------ Sarah Saetren FAIC Education Manager ------------------------------ 6.From: Patricia Miller Posted: Monday April 13, 2026 6:42 PM Subject: Summer Internship - Preventive Care/Preservation/Conservation, The Preservation Society of Newport County Message: The Preservation Society of Newport County is offering an 8-week summer internship focused on preventive conservation. Projects will be focused on our in-house museum displays at select historic properties such as The Breakers and The Elms, include limited surveys of decorative interiors and collections, and specialized cleaning activities including stone, painted surfaces, and furniture. Candidates should be familiar with standard conservation documentation practices, have experience with preventive conservation and museum collections care techniques, and skills such as inpainting and paint consolidation. Candidates should be pre-program, or currently enrolled in a master's degree program in art conservation or historic preservation, or a recent graduate. For more information and/or to apply, send brief letter of interest, resume, and portfolio sample or link to [email protected] <[email protected]> Internship period is June through July, Monday through Friday, 40 hrs per week, hourly rate of $22/hr. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until position is filled. Start date is negotiable. ------------------------------ Patricia Miller Chief Conservator Preservation Society of Newport County Newport United States ------------------------------ You are subscribed to "Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList)" as [email protected]. To change your subscriptions, go to http://community.culturalheritage.org/preferences?section=Subscriptions. To unsubscribe from this community discussion, go to https://community.culturalheritage.org/HigherLogic/eGroups/Unsubscribe.aspx?UserKey=d16eaa87-0f69-494b-9f2f-303dbc1222e1&sKey=fab9aa4f27a04c5d876e&GroupKey=757a8f16-505f-4323-8e74-e376757aa9f7.
