Email digest for the Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList) egroup. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Plaster sculptures reinforced with carbon rods 2. 5 days till the Sept. 30 Deadline Call For Papers: ASG Session at the AIC 2026 Annual Meeting 3. mold remediation in collections 4. Archaeological Conservation Summer Internships, Athenian Agora Excavations 5. European Researchers' Night in Conservation-Restoration of Cultural Heritage ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.From: Melanie Schneppel Posted: Friday September 26, 2025 6:21 AM Subject: Plaster sculptures reinforced with carbon rods Message: Hello everyone, Does anyone have experience with restoring plaster sculptures? I work as a restorer in a museum with many plaster sculptures and reliefs. Many of them have iron reinforcements. Some have come loose due to severe rust. Does anyone have experience with whether plaster can also be reinforced with carbon rods? My predecessor replaced some of the reinforcements with stainless steel. Considering the weight, maybe carbon is a good alternative? Or is carbon too brittle? Of course, I don't want to replace intact reinforcements. Thanks a lot! ------------------------------ Melanie Schneppel Objects Conservator Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn Bonn Germany ------------------------------ 2.From: Tania Alam Posted: Friday September 26, 2025 11:41 AM Subject: 5 days till the Sept. 30 Deadline Call For Papers: ASG Session at the AIC 2026 Annual Meeting Message: FIVE DAYS REMAIN to submit abstracts and posters to be considered for the 54th Annual Meeting of the American Institute for Conservation (AIC), jointly hosted with CAC-ACCR in Montreal, Canada from April 28 to May 2, 2026. For the ASG session, we are seeking abstracts from all specialty groups following the conference theme "Conservation at the Intersection of Innovation and Tradition." Suggestions for topics: Projects exemplifying the importance of incorporating traditional, indigenous and local practices into contemporary conservation approaches. The importance of practicing conservators to engage with peers and emerging professionals (of all specialties) to disseminate the lessons learned from challenging conservation projects. New testing methodologies and materials characterization studies. New technologies for the assessment and documentation of historic buildings, structures, and sites. Projects showcasing successful results due to holistic approaches taken through cross-disciplinary knowledge sharing to preserve cultural heritage.. Rethinking conservation techniques and adapting to new evolving challenges like climate change (rising sea levels, rising temperatures, wildfires, etc.). To be considered for the ASG specialty session, please select "Specialty or Interest Session" as one of your preferred choices, and check the "Architecture" option when submitting. Abstract submissions should be no more than 500 words, and are due by Tuesday, September 30, 2025, via Oxford Abstracts <https://app.oxfordabstracts.com/auth?redirect=/stages/79512/submitter>. Speaker travel funding opportunities are available for which you can apply at the time of submitting your abstracts. Please refer to the 2026 Annual Meeting & Conference Page <https://www.culturalheritage.org/events/annual-meeting/current-meeting/call-for-submissions> for specific instructions. For questions or further information, please contact the ASG Program Chair, Tania Alam ([email protected] <[email protected]>) and/or ASG Chair, Ali Wysopal ([email protected] <[email protected]>). This year, ASG is excited to be collaborating with other specialty groups for the following Concurrent General Session topics: Community Consensus: Understanding and Implementing Fire Safety Fire has a devastating effect on cultural heritage collections. Our mandate to protect historic sites and collections complicates management of prevention and response. Preventing fire requires collaboration among a wide range of collection care professionals, first responders, and code enforcers. We employ services of outside contractors and consultants who must follow state, local, and national regulations. This session will focus on best practice for fire prevention, minimizing damage if the worst occurs, triage and recovery efforts. We welcome submissions on the following topics: Fire and building code Suppression and detection systems Operational fire safety practices Minimizing wildfire threats Preparedness and recovery Case studies of fire and response. The team planning this session includes insurance industry professionals, fire safety experts, and ASG, BPG, H & S Network, OSG, and PCN members. To be considered for this general concurrent session, please select "Community Consensus: Understanding and Implementing Fire Safety" as one of your preferred choices when submitting. National Heritage Responders: Communication, Connection, and Collaboration in Disaster Recovery The National Heritage Responders (NHR) are a volunteer group of preservation professionals trained in cultural heritage disaster response and recovery. Active since 2007, responders monitor a 24/7 hotline, support on-site and virtual deployments to disaster-impacted areas, and promote outreach to communities in need. These volunteers represent a wide range of specialty backgrounds, geographic locations, and previous experiences. Through this session, we seek to chronicle recent NHR work and demonstrate how the recovery of cultural heritage can shift depending on the affected community, extent and type of damage, and funding available. As volunteers external to these communities, NHRs focus on preserving physical collections and the built environment while recognizing that local bandwidth, priorities, and relationships may take precedence over what are considered "best practices" in our field. We invite panelists to discuss flexibility and collaboration in disaster recovery zones and consider how these efforts will evolve in a future without reliable government assistance. We hope to feature NHR involvement in the following: fire recovery; flooding and hurricane response; virtual deployments and hotline assistance; and reciprocal relationships with Heritage Emergency and Response Training (HEART) and Alliance for Response (AFR) groups. To be considered for this general concurrent session, please select "National Heritage Responders: Communication, Connection, and Collaboration in Disaster Recovery" as one of your preferred choices when submitting. To Sample or Not to Sample: Navigating Ethics, Context, and Scientific Needs in Conservation Scientific analysis is central to understanding and preserving cultural heritage, yet conservation professionals often find themselves with a dilemma when selecting study methods, particularly when weighing the value of non-invasive techniques against the need for micro-sampling. This session invites participants to engage in dialogue across specialties about how we choose, justify, and communicate technical approaches around sampling of an object. Topics may include: Case studies where sampling made a big difference-or where restraint proved more powerful. The role of context sampling decisions, including scientific goals, institutional capacity, community priorities, and ethical frameworks. Ethical decision-making: Who decides when to sample? What does consent look like in community-driven projects? Approaches to working with sacred, contested, or community-held heritage. What does ethical stewardship look like in these cases? Sample curation: ownership and storage of samples, navigating consent, access, long-term use, and disposal of materials from culturally significant objects. Rethinking terminology in conservation science: Are terms like non-invasive, minimally invasive, or micro-invasive accurate, or potentially misleading? How re-examining our vocabulary might clarify methodologies and promote collaborations? This session is jointly organized with the Research and Technical Studies Group (RATS). To be considered for this general concurrent session, please select "To Sample or Not to Sample: Navigating Ethics, Context, and Scientific Needs in Conservation" as one of your preferred choices when submitting. ------------------------------ Tania Alam ASG Program Chair Assistant Project Manager Consulting Associates of New York United States ------------------------------ 3.From: Alice Paterakis Posted: Friday September 26, 2025 11:41 AM Subject: mold remediation in collections Message: Dear Colleagues, We have organic and inorganic objects with mold contamination and want to determine the best way of cleaning and decontaminating these objects before bringing them into our collection space. We also wonder if freezing kills all forms of mold ? If so, what temperature and duration is required? The objects are currently stored in lockers off-site. We had one company analyze swabs that confirmed mold but did not identify species. Do PPE and protocols depend on species found? We are currently looking at the Midwest Mold Removal company that uses GM2000 (a Goldmorr System product for mold and spore elimination) and an anti-microbial disinfectant. The MSDS for GM2000 does not identify the ingredients of the product! We are looking for recommendations for mold remediation companies that people have used and are happy with. Any advice you can send would be most appreciated. Thank you, Alice Boccia Paterakis Head of Conservation Missouri Historical Society St. Louis MO 63105 [email protected] . 4.From: Alicia Dissinger Posted: Friday September 26, 2025 11:41 AM Subject: Archaeological Conservation Summer Internships, Athenian Agora Excavations Message: Archaeological Conservation Summer Internships Deadline: December 15, 2025 The Agora Excavations Conservation Laboratory of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens is offering two Archaeological Conservation Internships for the 2026 summer excavation season. The Conservation Laboratory functions as an integral part of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens' Agora Excavations. Its aim is to support the excavations by providing services that contribute to the study and understanding of the site. Interns will have an opportunity to treat freshly excavated archaeological finds and to participate in an active on-site conservation laboratory. Under the supervision and guidance of the Agora Conservation staff, interns will carry out general conservation duties including: examination and analysis of artifacts; documentation; cleaning; reconstruction; restoration; and photography of artifacts from the current excavation and from storage. In this way, interns will be able to work with a variety of materials including ceramics, stone, glass, copper alloys, iron, lead, bone and occasionally ivory and wood. An introduction to the re-treatment, preventive and long-term care of archaeological collections will also be provided. Applicants must currently be enrolled in a graduate or equivalent conservation program, or they must have recently completed their studies in conservation. Successful candidates are required to obtain their own medical insurance for the duration of their internship. Successful candidates are also responsible for their travel arrangements to and from Athens, Greece and for arranging their own accommodation. A modest expense allowance of 150 Euros per week, and a housing allowance consisting of the Euro equivalent of approximately $200 per week (up to $1600 for 8 weeks and upon submission of receipts – payments will be made in Euros depending on the currency rate) will be provided for each intern during their internship. Those persons who are already resident in their own accommodations in Athens are welcome to apply for the program and will receive the same expense allowance, although no refund for their housing is possible. Internships may vary in length from 6 to 8 weeks and are undertaken from early June to early August. Applicants should indicate in their application their approximate preferred dates within this time frame. To apply, submit an online application at the address below. Applications require two confidential letters of recommendation, which will be solicited through the application portal and must arrive by the deadline, 15 December 2025. For inquiries contact: Maria Tziotziou, Head of Conservation; Email: [email protected] For online posting and to apply: https://www.ascsa.edu.gr/programs/summer-excavation-programs/agora-archaeological-conservation-summer-internships <https://www.ascsa.edu.gr/programs/summer-excavation-programs/agora-archaeological-conservation-summer-internships>. ------------------------------ Alicia Dissinger Programs Administrator American School of Classical Studies at Athens Princeton United States ------------------------------ 5.From: Laura Fuster López Posted: Friday September 26, 2025 8:48 PM Subject: European Researchers' Night in Conservation-Restoration of Cultural Heritage Message: On line webinar next 30 September 2025 (12.00-18.00h CET) to celebrate the European Researchers' Night, which is taking place across the continent today. This webinar is a great opportunity to showcase some of the most relevant research initiatives currently taking place at a European level in the conservation-restoration of cultural heritage, offering students and emerging professionals a glimpse into the extraordinary research being conducted in our field, and demonstrating the power of interinstitutional collaboration, as well as the possibilities available at a European level. We hope this will be an informative and inspiring event for younger generations, providing an overview of how professionals from diverse disciplines in the humanities, natural sciences and technology come together to preserve cultural heritage, as well as showcasing the joint efforts to build up extraordinary scientific infrastructures and platforms. Check the programbelow and join us on Tuesday! The event is FREE, but registration is required. To attend, you can register at: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/3947c084-fb16-474e-aa36-6dad8f579488@be4655df-ac73-401f-a7ae-198c3b72d0c6 <https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/3947c084-fb16-474e-aa36-6dad8f579488@be4655df-ac73-401f-a7ae-198c3b72d0c6> ------------------------------ Laura Fuster López Professor Universitat Politècnica de València, Instituto Universitario de Restauracion del Patrimonio Valencia (Spain) ------------------------------ You are subscribed to "Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList)" as [email protected]. To change your subscriptions, go to http://community.culturalheritage.org/preferences?section=Subscriptions. To unsubscribe from this community discussion, go to https://community.culturalheritage.org/HigherLogic/eGroups/Unsubscribe.aspx?UserKey=d16eaa87-0f69-494b-9f2f-303dbc1222e1&sKey=fab9aa4f27a04c5d876e&GroupKey=757a8f16-505f-4323-8e74-e376757aa9f7.
