This course provides an introduction and practical experience of the agents and processes of the physical, chemical and biological deterioration of organic materials and the preventive conservation strategies devised for these artefacts. This knowledge will help students to identify how and why organic materials deteriorate, and to contribute to decisions regarding the selection, implementation and evaluation of appropriate preventive measures.

2 hours per week (lecture/ seminar) for 10 weeks, plus one 1 hour tutorial, one external visit (4 hours) and one practical class (2 hours).

None

None

Long Answer Questions (3000 words) - 60%

Group Presentation (15 minutes) - 20%

Critical Evaluation (1000 words) - 20%

This course aims to:

■ Introduce the student to the concept of preventive conservation and the relationship of objects to both their physical and social environments.

■ Introduce the student to agents and processes of the physical, biological and chemical deterioration of organic materials.

■ Introduce the student to the concept of sustainable heritage and its implications.

■ Enable the student to evaluate a range of approaches to the management of the museum environment, including control methods, risk management and emergency planning.

■ Provide the student with practical experience of environmental monitoring over a period of time and of assessing the results.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Explain and apply concepts of preventive conservation.

■ Critically evaluate preventive conservation options reflecting the current context of the heritage sector

■ Assess and select effective preventive conservation measures for the storage and display of artefacts.

■ Communicate preventive conservation issues effectively using appropriate terminology.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.

Attendance mandatory.