1. The Natural History Museum: Natural History collections, their conservation and interpretation Julie Harvey New Perspectives Project Co-ordinator Chris Collins Head of Conservation

2. Natural History Museum Opened to public 1881 Architect Alfred Waterhouse Complex institution

3. Museum visitors 3.8 million visitors

4. Marine Invertebrate Gallery

5. Bryozoans- Lace corals

9. Objects of cultural significance

10. Scientific Institution- 300 scientists: 70 million specimens

11. Historical Significance Sir Hans Sloane Joseph Banks Charles Darwin

12. SEM- Diatom

13. SEM- Pollen grain- Tomato

15. Diversity Insects

16. Bird specimens- Echo parakeet

17. Natural structures- nests

18. Palaeontology- Mineralogy

19. Library, Art + Archives

20. Complex Conservation Projects Natural History Museum, London

21. Natural Materials Natural History Museum holds around 70 million specimens Natural origin or artefacts derived from a natural origin

22. Challenges Collections support the research of the museum Any interventive process therefore will reduce or change the value of the object Collections are held in an environment that reduces rates of deterioration and maximize data –Object –Frozen Collections –Digital Collections –Specialist Control Standards Review

23. Ethics Preventive Approach Object as Data –DNA –Ore generation –Meteorite –Proteins –Pigments –Specimen Status

24. Lace and Links Natural Materials – Linen (flax plant, Linum usitatissimum), Silk (protein fibre), Cotton (bolls - Gossypium barbadense – Metals, human hair, natural history materials – Hold samples of original materials – Role as a research collection Museum holds its collections as a research archive Conservations role is to preserve data

25. Complexity Physical structures Chemical Data –DNA –Proteins –Glass, Wax –Collagen –Keratin –Chitin –Hydroxyapatite –Cellulose –Mineralogical –Composite minerals

26. Complex Structures Complex Structure Heavily restored Value –Morphology –ADNA

27. Imaging Digitization and analysis Macro level –Digital photography –Surface Scanning –Computer Aided Tomography (CT) –Non-invasive analysis Raman EDX

28. Analysis in Conservation Papyrus –oxidation and efflorescence –Preservation and access

29. Composition, Imaging and analysis Conservation Reduced Oxygen Environments –Analysis of plastics –Design of enclosures –Assessment of monitors –Effectiveness –Use

30. Imaging in Conservation Blaschka Glass Models Lay over conservation documentation Structural Information –Conservation –Structural –Analysis Reduced invasive conservation

31. Non-invasive investigation and reproduction Stereo lithography CAT Scanning and 3D Laser Scanning Raman Spectroscopy/Multi Spectral imaging Specialist Sampling Maintenance of Electronic Data Micro-sampling

32. Reducing invasive treatments Laser Cleaning –Dual Wavelength Changing the way we treat specimens

33. Conservation Research Non-invasive Conservation –Reduced invasive treatments –Imaging Forensic Conservation –Analysis –Design –Aid in preservation at scenes of crime –Sampling –Ensure data for ID accessible DNA Geneaology

34. Changing Methodologies Improve techniques for preservation Improve knowledge of environmental preservation Improving data preservation Accessibility –Object –Data

35. Overview Research Orientation Non-invasive analysis Non-invasive preservtion Materials analysis Improved techniques in data (specimen) management Improved access –Imaging –Analysis –(digital) replication Environmental standards

36. Thanks Liesa Stertz Richie Abel Felicity bolton Lorraine Cornish