Email digest for the Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList) egroup. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Seeking Research Fellowships & Lab Collaborations (Paper Conservation / German–Iranian Context) 2. Paintings Specialty Group: Call for Nominations for 2026-2027 PSG Board 3. Deadline Extension: Historic New England Summer Internship in Objects Conservation 4. International Day of Women and Girls in Scienc (in CR Cultural Heritage) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.From: Morteza Mafi Posted: Thursday February 5, 2026 7:17 AM Subject: Seeking Research Fellowships & Lab Collaborations (Paper Conservation / German–Iranian Context) Message: Dear Colleagues, I am an independent conservation researcher based in Iran, specializing in the material analysis of 20th-century security and identity documents. My current research focuses on the technical and historical links between Iranian bureaucratic papers and German industrial papermaking (ca. 1930–1950). My work combines fiber analysis, FTIR spectroscopy, and RTI to study the transition from traditional rag papers to lignin-rich industrial security papers and the conservation challenges they present. Recently, my research has received international recognition, including: Poster accepted for the AIC Annual Meeting 2026 (Montreal) Submissions to conferences in Munich (BSB – Watermarks), Berlin (TUM – Materiality & Color), and Amsterdam (IPH – Paper Trade) I am currently seeking guidance on: Research fellowships or grants in Germany or Europe that support independent researchers in paper conservation or heritage science Opportunities for laboratory-based collaboration, particularly related to fiber and chemical analysis of mid-20th-century security papers Given the strong historical role of German papermaking in the materials I study, I would be especially grateful for connections or advice related to German institutions or research groups. Many thanks in advance for any suggestions or leads. Best regards, Morteza Mafi Independent Conservation Researcher Email: [email protected] ------------------------------ Morteza Mafi ------------------------------ 2.From: Talia Ratnavale Posted: Thursday February 5, 2026 7:21 AM Subject: Paintings Specialty Group: Call for Nominations for 2026-2027 PSG Board Message: The Paintings Specialty Group is seeking nominations for several open positions on 2026-2027 PSG board! Serving as an officer is a great way to contribute to the field, make new contacts, and see your ideas come to fruition. Each position is important to the operation of the group and has many opportunities that come with it. We invite candidates for the roles listed below. The deadline for nominations is February 20th. For the elected positions, please include a statement of interest in the position and a short biography (300 words maximum each). Both will be included in the ballot. For the appointed positions, please submit a statement of interest. Elected Positions: PSG Secretary/Treasurer (5-10 Hours/Month) Term: If elected, 2 years. Description: the Secretary/Treasurer maintains written records of all meetings and activities of the PSG Specialty Group <https://www.culturalheritage.org/groups/paintings-specialty-group> as well as disseminating the Annual Business Meeting agenda and monthly meetings agenda. This role also prepares the annual PSG Budget, reviews all invoices, and tracks group income and expenses. In addition, this role presents the Treasurer's report as the PSG Business Meeting, as well as working with AIC Finance Director and PSG Exec. Committee. PSG Vice/Assistant Program Chair (4-5 Hours/Month) Term: If elected, 1-year term which is part of a three-year commitment. After the first year, the officer will move into the Program Chair position. After the second year, the officer will move into the Chair position. If interested, the officer can participate for a fourth year in the optional role of Chair Emeritus. Description: the Vice/Assistant Program Chair of the Paintings Specialty Group <https://www.culturalheritage.org/groups/paintings-specialty-group> assists the PSG Program Chair in all organizational activities related to the AIC Annual Meeting, including sessions, receptions, and the Tips Session. Appointed Positions: PSG Communications Chair (5-7 hours/Month) Term: 2 years, with option to renew for 2nd term. Description: the Communications Chair of the Paintings Specialty Group <https://www.culturalheritage.org/groups/paintings-specialty-group> is responsible for disseminating information from the PSG Leadership Committee to the PSG community and wider conservation community through AIC Newsletter updates, social media, PSG website, and more. PSG ECPN Liaison(s) - (2-4 hours/Month) Term: 1 years, with option to renew for 2nd term. Description: the ECPN Liaison(s) of the Paintings Specialty Group <https://www.culturalheritage.org/groups/paintings-specialty-group> are responsible for serving as a conduit of information between ECPN and PSG. They are also responsible for advocating for ECPs in PSG meetings and promoting PSG initiatives to ECPs. If two members are appointed, they will serve as co-liaisons. Other: Wiki Authors There are other great ways to get involved besides serving on the PSG board! The PSG's 2026 Wiki Committee is looking for new authors and contributors. Whether you'd like to write a full entry or collaborate on an existing page, your expertise is welcome. Our team of editors are ready to help with ideas, formatting, and editing. If you are interested in contributing to this valuable resource, please email the PSG Chief Wiki Editor at [email protected] <[email protected]> To submit nominations or inquire further, please contact any one of our nominating committee members: Courtney Books: [email protected] <[email protected]> Cristiana Acerbi Ginatta: [email protected] <[email protected]> Talia Ratnavale: [email protected] <[email protected]> Many thanks, PSG Nominating Committee ------------------------------ Talia Ratnavale Mellon Fellow in Paintings Conservation Clyfford Still Museum Denver United States ------------------------------ 3.From: Michaela Neiro Posted: Thursday February 5, 2026 7:24 AM Subject: Deadline Extension: Historic New England Summer Internship in Objects Conservation Message: Historic New England, a national model for the care of regional heritage buildings, landscapes, and collections, is seeking a student currently enrolled in a conservation masters-degree program specializing in objects conservation for a summer internship. Historic New England is pleased to offer a Summer Internship in Objects Conservation. Candidates with experience or interest in decorative painted wooden surfaces will also be considered. The position is designed to provide advanced training in conservation, broadening the intern's technical skills and knowledge of a wide variety of objects and materials from the collection. Historic New England seeks motivated applicants from all backgrounds and values diversity with regard to culture, race, ethnicity, gender identity, and ability. Classification: Non-exempt; 35 hours per week; Term-limited 8-10 weeks, with exact dates to be arranged between June and September 2026. Location: Haverhill, Massachusetts; New England residency by start of work required Essential Duties: Work directly with the Director of Conservator and Jenrette Conservation Fellow in the examination, photography, treatment, and research of objects in the institution's permanent collection, both within the spacious, productive, and well-equipped conservation laboratory and on-site at Historic New England's historic house museums. Additional duties include preventive conservation, conservation laboratory tours, and public outreach. Projects for the summer include consolidation and inpainting of decorative grain painted surfaces at Cogswell's Grant in Essex, Mass. and Castle Tucker in Wiscasset, Maine. Projects may also include treatments related to new furnishing plans based on the research from our Recovering New England Voices initiatives and preventive care activities at individual house museums. Ideal Experience, Education, and Skills: · Currently enrolled in a recognized conservation training program · Demonstrated interest in historic houses and collections · Outstanding hand skills and a familiarity with current conservation materials · Proficiency with digital photography · Excellent communication and writing skills · Proven time management, planning, and teamwork skills · International candidates will not be considered unless they currently possess a visa to work in the United States · A valid driver's license and a means of transportation. · Commitment to the values of diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion About the Organization: Historic New England is the oldest and largest regional preservation organization in the United States and owns and operates thirty-eight historic sites. With more than 125,000 artifacts and 1.5 million archival documents, Historic New England has the most comprehensive and best-documented collection of New England life, including decorative arts and household furnishings, in the country. These collections are at the heart of our site experiences, public programs, and research. As reflected in our strategic agenda, The New England Plan, our mission is to save and share New England's stories and we are committed to growing our archival and artifact collections to reflect the diversity of the New England region. Increased regional diversity will help us tell broader stories about industry, trade, migration, labor, class, and taste in New England. Ultimately, Historic New England seeks to build a collection that future generations will depend on to understand New England's history. The conservation team is an integral part of this mission, actively engaged in the treatment of objects, furniture, textiles, wallpaper, preventive conservation practices along with related research, teaching, and mentorship. The Community: The internship is based at Historic New England's Center for Preservation and Collections in Haverhill, Massachusetts, approximately 45 minutes north of Boston. Active nearby communities include Lowell, Newburyport and Salem, Mass., Portsmouth, and Manchester, New Hampshire. Haverhill is well situated off interstates 95 and 495 with beaches, mountains and vibrant cities close by. Compensation: $21.00 hourly, plus benefits To Apply: Please send curriculum vitae and letter of interest to [email protected] <[email protected]> by February 6, 2026. Deadline extended to Feb 12 Historic New England is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer with a strong commitment to supporting equality of opportunity and respect for diversity. We are committed to providing equal opportunity in employment to all qualified persons without regard to non-work-related factors such as race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, national origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation. 4.From: Laura Fuster López Posted: Thursday February 5, 2026 9:31 PM Subject: International Day of Women and Girls in Scienc (in CR Cultural Heritage) Message: Find attached the flyer for the 2nd edition of a webinar, which will take place next Wednesday, 11 February, on the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (in CR Cultural Heritage) LINK: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/9a9570b8-db2b-4c97-8c2a-e414359e3bee@be4655df-ac73-401f-a7ae-198c3b72d0c6 <https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/9a9570b8-db2b-4c97-8c2a-e414359e3bee@be4655df-ac73-401f-a7ae-198c3b72d0c6> Participation is free of charge, but prior registration is required. We hope you like the program and that you can join us 13.45-14.00h Welcome Laura FUSTER LÓPEZ -Instituto U. de Restauración del Patrimonio - UPV (Spain) 14.00-14.20h "Heritage Science beyond the science lab" Annette S. ORTIZ MIRANDA Walters Art Museum (USA) 14.20-14.40h "Teaching Science to Conserve: a Scientific Way to Look at Cultural Heritage in Conservation Training Programs" Laura OSETE-CORTINA Instituto U. de Restauración del Patrimonio - UPV (Spain) 14.40-15.00h "Empirical Solutions to Biodeterioration Based on Observation: the Truth is Out There" Patricia SANMARTÍN SÁNCHEZ CRETUS, Centre for Cross-disciplinary Research in Environmental Technologies, Univ. Santiago de Compostela (Spain ) 15.00-15.20h "The Mechanics of Delamination in Oil Paintings" Dorien WESTERT Technical University of Eindhoven (The Netherlands) 15.20-15.40h " When Paint Layers Let Go: How Humidity and Pigment Type Affects Delamination in Oil Paintings" Siv KROGSGAARD JESPERSEN & Cecil K. ANDERSEN Royal Danish Academy (Denmark) 15.40-16.00h BREAK 16.00-16.20 "One Painting, Multiple Narratives: Uncovering Layer-Specific Crack Patterns through MBI and Portable Optical Microscope" Candela BELENGUER-SALVADOR Instituto U. de Restauración del Patrimonio - UPV (Spain) 16.20-16.40 "Shades of Green in Edvard Munch's Atelier: an Insight into Green Oil Paints at the Munch Museum" Arianna ABBAFATI Università Ca'Foscari (Italy)-Munch Museet (Norway) 16.40-17.00 "Illuminating Picasso's Early Period: A Preliminary Study of Yellow through Non-Invasive Imaging" Irene SAMANIEGO-JIMENEZ Instituto U. de Restauración del Patrimonio - UPV (Spain) 17.00-17.20 "Selective Cleaning with Nanostructured Materials in Conservation Practice" Soraya ALCALÁ Museum of Fine Arts Houston (USA) 17.20-17.40 "How and what we study to better conserve archaeological bones" Lucía LÓPEZ-POLÍN Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social (IPHES/CERCA, Tarragona, Spain) 17.40-18.00 "Conserving Plastics in Collections: From Scientific Research to Practice" Anna LAGANÀ Getty Conservation Institute (USA) 18.00h Wrap up Debra L. WESTALL- American Space Valencia - UPV (Spain) ------------------------------ 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.
