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The Natural History Museum: Natural History collections, their conservation and interpretation Julie Harvey New Perspectives Project Co-ordinator Chris Collins Head of Conservation
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Natural History Museum Opened to public 1881 Architect Alfred Waterhouse Complex institution
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Museum visitors 3.8 million visitors
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Marine Invertebrate Gallery
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Bryozoans- Lace corals
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Objects of cultural significance
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Scientific Institution- 300 scientists: 70 million specimens
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Historical Significance Sir Hans Sloane Joseph Banks Charles Darwin
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SEM- Diatom
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SEM- Pollen grain- Tomato
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Diversity Insects
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Bird specimens- Echo parakeet
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Natural structures- nests
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Palaeontology- Mineralogy
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Library, Art + Archives
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Complex Conservation Projects Natural History Museum, London
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Natural Materials Natural History Museum holds around 70 million specimens Natural origin or artefacts derived from a natural origin
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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
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Ethics Preventive Approach Object as Data –DNA –Ore generation –Meteorite –Proteins –Pigments –Specimen Status
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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
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Complexity Physical structures Chemical Data –DNA –Proteins –Glass, Wax –Collagen –Keratin –Chitin –Hydroxyapatite –Cellulose –Mineralogical –Composite minerals
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Complex Structures Complex Structure Heavily restored Value –Morphology –ADNA
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Imaging Digitization and analysis Macro level –Digital photography –Surface Scanning –Computer Aided Tomography (CT) –Non-invasive analysis Raman EDX
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Analysis in Conservation Papyrus –oxidation and efflorescence –Preservation and access
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Composition, Imaging and analysis Conservation Reduced Oxygen Environments –Analysis of plastics –Design of enclosures –Assessment of monitors –Effectiveness –Use
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Imaging in Conservation Blaschka Glass Models Lay over conservation documentation Structural Information –Conservation –Structural –Analysis Reduced invasive conservation
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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
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Reducing invasive treatments Laser Cleaning –Dual Wavelength Changing the way we treat specimens
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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
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Changing Methodologies Improve techniques for preservation Improve knowledge of environmental preservation Improving data preservation Accessibility –Object –Data
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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
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Thanks Liesa Stertz Richie Abel Felicity bolton Lorraine Cornish
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