Paper Degradation Laboratory is a part of the Faculty of Chemistry of the Jagiellonian University. The Lab was founded in 2003 by Prof. Andrzej Barański, who initiated the Polish Long Term Governmental Project 'Acidic Paper'. Today, Jagiellonian Library independently operates the facility for mass-scale deacidification of paper, named Paper Clinic, and our group carries projects related mainly to paper degradation, co-operating with numerous research and cultural heritage institutions. Since 2008 our group organizes a two-semester post-graduate course Modern analytical techniques in the conservation of artworks, aimed for art conservators.

Our research can be regarded as a part of Preservation Science - a scientific discipline dealing with preservation and protection of cultural heritage. Preservation Science is a part of materials engineering science, being a cross-over of chemical, physical, biological and technical sciences as well as the Arts. Preservation Science is now focusing on three main issues:  causes and mechanisms of heritage objects degradation,  active neutralization of degradation as a result of technological as well as preservative actions,  passively counteracting the degradation by ensuring the optimal exhibit and storage conditions. Our research is focused on the degradation of paper - one of the main information carriers.

Our current research topics include:  kinetic studies of acidic hydrolysis and oxidation of cellulose and silk,  development of analytical tools and methods for paper and colorants degradation studies,  passive conservation (altered atmosphere storage),  novel methods of paper disinfection (cold plasma treatment). -

activities planned for SET students :  what is color? how to measure it? does man and woman sees colors differently? how fragile the color could be?  beyond visible light and how (not to) counterfeit documents