The conservation and analysis of sites, (art) objects, histories, and narratives are central to heritage management, interpretation, and presentation. This cluster concentrates on the scientific and engineering methodologies applied in heritage studies and management, including threats to heritage – such as climate change and conflict. Research undertaken under this cluster investigates heritage sites and archaeological and museum collections through the application of scientific, engineering, imaging, and digital methodologies.
Thematic research integrates the quantitative results of analysis of tangible heritage – through the disciplines of environmental science and biology, nuclear physics, digitization, and haptics – with existing archaeological, anthropological, and historical data and narratives. It explicitly analyzes the physical landscape and examines how humans interact with their environment. An understanding of changing landscape use over time produces high level data on cultural development, migration, and adaptation to local environmental fluctuations and global climate shifts. Comparative analytical data sets produced by both the hard and soft sciences create opportunities to examine heritage process both as functions of society and as functions of scientific fact. Applying scientific techniques to questions surrounding authenticity, origin and construction, contributes towards richer analysis of the tangible past and offers sustainable solutions to current global climate, political and economic challenges.
Projects undertaken in this cluster also explore local and international policy and legislative frameworks for the management, conservation and presentation of heritage in national and global contexts. They examine the role of heritage in soft and hard diplomacy, economic and geopolitical decision-making and the uses of heritage in national prestige.
The Heritage and Science cluster is led by Francesco Arneodo, who applies nuclear and particle physics techniques to cultural heritage.
Programs coming soon.