This training course was aimed at mid-career museum conservators. The participants were from a broad range of specializations and from all over Europe and beyond. It was very well organized and led by Dr Christian Degrigny (head of Diagnostic Science Laboratories, Malta Restoration Centre and an active) and Clara von Waldthausen (Photograph conservator in private practice, Netherlands). It included theoretical presentations, demonstrations and practical exercises, tours and since one of the organizers was French, a couple very nice meals.

The starting point of the course was the importance of environmental conditions for museum collections. This logically leads to monitoring the environment and understanding the process of deterioration. But the main focus of the course was showcasing the recent development of dosimeters, sensors and early warning systems (EWS) to provide a quick and reliable indication of the risk of damage. The course was held under the auspices the European Cooperation in the field of Scientific and Technological Research (COST).

COST G8
COST is an intergovernmental framework for European cooperation in the field of scientific and technical research, allowing the coordination on a European level of nationally funded research projects. COST does not fund research; rather it supports cooperation, funding and facilitating scientific workshops and seminars, short-term scientific missions (1-8 weeks), training schools and conferences, and dissemination. Although Europe-based, it includes non-European members.

COST is based on Actions. These are networks of co-ordinated national research projects in fields, which are of interest to a minimum number of participants (at least 5) from different Member States. The duration of an Action is generally 4 years. COST Action G8; "Non-destructive analysis and testing of museum objects", was started in 2001 with the aim of achieving better preservation and conservation of our cultural heritage by increasing the knowledge in museum objects through nondestructive analysis and testing and by improving the synergy between art historians, archaeologists, conservators and natural scientists. The Action is chaired by Prof Annemie Adriaens (University of Ghent) and it has been extended until the end of 2005 (http://srs.dl.ac.uk/arch/cost-g8/).

The G8 Action is made up of several Working Groups which coordinate research in a specific field. WG3 deals with "Degradation processes, corrosion and weathering". It was WG3 who designed this course. Much of the research presented was carried out with the support of the EU and the course provided an opportunity for research results to be disseminated.

The Programme
The first two days were devoted to the impact of environmental factors on museum objects. The effects of temperature, RH, light and air-born pollutants were explained and the influence of their interaction was stressed. Both Dr. Hannelore Römich, coordinator of the LiDO project and Dr. Jan Wouters of the royal Belgian Institute for Cultural Heritage, emphasized that the importance and unpredictability of these synergetic effects.

Some monitoring tools were highlighted, presenting some of the recent EU funded research projects in the field. These were:

All these projects are discussed in more depth in Sophie Younger's account (2005) and more information can be found on respective websites. Institutions in the UK are involved in all these projects. They are mostly academic institutions like Birkbeck College and the Centre for Sustainable Development at UCL or large national museums like the V&A.

The course visited the Wignacourt Museum in Rabat, where EWS for the MASTER project are being tested. Data for this project is collected simultaneously for temperature, RH, light damage and pollutants, in an attempt to match sample and real object degradation. Two sampling stations are set up within the galleries and an additional one in the courtyard for comparison.

We were fortunate enough to visit the Hypogeum, Malta's famous underground 4th millennium BC temple complex. The site had to be shut down due to algae growth several years ago. The algae growth was caused by the high numbers of visitors and lighting. In a research project led by JoAnn Cassar of the University of Malta, the internal microclimate was monitored over several years and the distribution of algae and visible water were mapped. With an air conditioning system now in place to keep the environment stable in the upper levels, strict control on visitor numbers and an automatic lighting system to keep light levels to a minimum, the site is now open to the public. It has proved so popular, that tickets must be bought several months in advance!

Two days were devoted to learning about the LiDO project and carrying out experiments and exercises to test its usability. Two types of light dosimeter were tested. They are both more sensitive than the Blue Wool Standards, to enable early identification of potential problems. The reference colour-scales also provide an equivalent luminous exposure (lux hours), which enables one to calculate the real implications of cumulative exposure to light. As well as the LiDO website, a short paper has recently been published on the LightCheck® dosimeters (Römich, 2004). We were all encouraged to do our own light measurement experiments in our own institutions. I was quite astonished by the amount of fading which occurred in the liquid sunshine of Manchester during the dark winter months. However, I found the reference colour-scales do not accurately reflect the fading on the dosimeters and can be confusing to interpret.

The last day of the course including a summing-up session and a visit to the teaching labs at the Malta restoration Centre. The conservation courses at MRC follow a specialism and each specialism has its own well equipped lab. During the panel discussion the question was raised whether there is a place for conservators in the COST G8 WG3 projects. The researchers currently involved in projects tend to be scientists or conservation scientists, while conservators wait on the sidelines for usable results. I think the exercises we all took part in trying out the LightCheck® dosimeters prove that consulting your user group is always a good idea. But beyond that I think most conservators would find it very difficult to find time to get involved in research projects even if their employers would allow them the privilege. I would, however encourage anyone who is interested in getting involved in this sort of research to browse the websites. There are certainly resources.

References
Römich, H. et al. 2004, LightCheck®: A new Tool in Preventive Conservation, V&A Conservation Journal, No. 47, 17-18.
Younger, S. 2005, Report: Innovative tools for exhibition purposes: environment and damage assessment, SSCR Journal Vol. 16, No.1,
Irit Narkiss
The Manchester Museum
The University of Manchester