Email digest for the Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList) egroup. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Laser Discussion Group Webinar: Monday, April 6th at 12PM EST 2. MA-XRF 2026 Conference - Paris - Deadline Extension 3. RE: Resource for Fire protection of cultural heritage 4. Twelfth MaSC Workshop and Meeting and ESCAPE workshop, Cologne, Germany, 21-25 September 2026 5. RE: Discoloration of Laropal A81 retouching (Tinuvin 292?) : uneven yellowing in green areas 6. Symposium on Palaeontological Preparation and Conservation 2026 7. RE: Resource for Fire protection of cultural heritage ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.From: Holly Salmon Posted: Friday April 3, 2026 5:29 AM Subject: Laser Discussion Group Webinar: Monday, April 6th at 12PM EST Message: The Laser Discussion Group (LDG) is AIC's newest discussion group and was established under the auspices of the Research and Technical Studies Group. The goal of the group is to advance the use of laser technologies in art and heritage conservation and facilitate communication and collaboration between communities that utilize lasers in conservation interventions or treatments. This initiative seeks to expand American engagement within the established international community and to serve as a resource for professionals interested in incorporating laser technologies into conservation practices. Join this virtual session to hear LDG officers share the group's vision and offer an introduction to the two laser types most commonly used in conservation: Nd:YAG and Er:YAG. For decades, neodymium-doped yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd-YAG) lasers have been used in conservation particularly for removing dark crusts from stone sculpture and architectural facades. Erbium-doped yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er-YAG) lasers can be used to thin/remove aged natural varnishes, biological growth, and adhesives by beneficially producing thermally-induced photo-disruption at the surfaces of media that contain O-H bonds. Both laser classes and their associated wavelengths can work well in tandem with other traditional cleaning techniques. Select examples will be briefly presented. Find more details and register for free through this link <https://learning.culturalheritage.org/products/an-introduction-to-the-laser-discussion-group-and-fundamentals-of-laser-cleaning-in-conservation#tab-product_tab_overview>. The LDG is pleased to announce a dedicated session at the 2026 AIC Annual Meeting in Montreal, focusing on the application of lasers across a range of material substrates (here). We hope to arrange an informal meetup after the session so stay tuned for more details. Keep an eye out for future LDG programming announcements. ------------------------------ Holly Salmon John L. and Susan K. Gardner Director of Conservation Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Boston United States ------------------------------ 2.From: Lucile Brunel-Duverger Posted: Friday April 3, 2026 5:30 AM Subject: MA-XRF 2026 Conference - Paris - Deadline Extension Message: CONFERENCE MA-XRF 2026 Parishttps://maxrf2026.sciencesconf.org/ <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://maxrf2026.sciencesconf.org/__;!!Gnbj7qdtAHuaEg!vDyoV3tDpBHGZs1P-D-ItT7e_DoMZQzuJyRcgPOhq5nZbf4KQeqcXH7OT4-aNRRJYSGhyqDLD8hO6x6hw0BTp_rzkzuGWV2-OwV6-E6pwuQx2g$> Abstract submission extension ! Abstracts are expected between January 5th to April 3rd May 4th 2026. You can submit your contribution until may 4 <https://maxrf2026.sciencesconf.org/submission/submit?forward-action=submit&forward-controller=submission&lang=en>th <https://maxrf2026.sciencesconf.org/submission/submit?forward-action=submit&forward-controller=submission&lang=en> directly here <https://maxrf2026.sciencesconf.org/submission/submit?forward-action=submit&forward-controller=submission&lang=en> (2500 characters - no figure). This workshop to be held in Paris, within the French National Museum of Natural History <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.google.com/maps/place/Grand*Amphitheatre*of*the*Museum/@48.8442728,2.3570081,17z/data=!4m14!1m7!3m6!1s0x47e671f05b9ed7a7:0x22e3cfecb6cb7688!2sGrand*Amphitheatre*of*the*Museum!8m2!3d48.8442728!4d2.3570081!16s*2Fg*2F1ydddk_4z!3m5!1s0x47e671f05b9ed7a7:0x22e3cfecb6cb7688!8m2!3d48.8442728!4d2.3570081!16s*2Fg*2F1ydddk_4z?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTIwOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw*3D*3D__;KysrKysrKyslJSUlJSU!!Gnbj7qdtAHuaEg!vDyoV3tDpBHGZs1P-D-ItT7e_DoMZQzuJyRcgPOhq5nZbf4KQeqcXH7OT4-aNRRJYSGhyqDLD8hO6x6hw0BTp_rzkzuGWV2-OwV6-E5HVbrnuw$>, between Thursday September 29th and Friday October 2nd 2026 aims to bring together researchers interested in MA-XRF and complementary imaging techniques for the study of cultural and natural heritage, including Reflectance Imaging Spectroscopy (RIS), Luminescence Imaging Spectroscopy (LIS), X-Ray Diffraction Mapping (XRD), Confocal XRF (CXRF), and more.Discussions will focus on the latest advancements in instrument development, data evaluation methods, and their applications in case studies. A particular emphasis will be placed on the integration of MA-XRF with other techniques in multi-modal analytical approaches. Oral presentation will be 20 min with questionsThe posters will be presented in digital format and will be introduced through flash presentations of ~3-4 minutes. The proceedings will be published as a virtual issue in X-Ray Spectrometry. Friday morning, October 2nd, will be devoted to the specific issues facing museum curators. This half-day will take place within the Ecole du Louvre. We are looking forward to your numerous contributions ! Local Organizing Committee :Oulfa Belhadj, Centre de Recherche sur la Conservation (CRC), Paris, FranceLucile Brunel-Duverger, Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Muses de France (C2RMF), Paris, FranceThomas Calligaro, Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Muses de France (C2RMF)/Lab-BC, Paris, FranceMarie-Anglique Languille, Centre de Recherche sur la Conservation (CRC), Paris, FranceAnne Michelin, Centre de Recherche sur la Conservation (CRC), Paris, FranceLaurent PICHON, Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Muses de France (C2RMF)/Lab-BC, Paris, FranceMarie Radepont, Centre de Recherche sur la Conservation (CRC), Paris, FranceIna Reiche, Lab-BC/Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Muses de France (C2RMF), Paris, FranceLaurence de Viguerie, Laboratoire Archologie Molculaire et Structurale Paris (LAMS), Paris, France International Scientific Committee :Matthias Alfeld, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands Anik Bezur, Yale University, USA Claudia Caliri, INFN-LNS & ISPC-CNR, Italy Thomas Calligaro, C2RMF, France Silvia Centeno, Metropolitan Museum of Art, USAJohn Delaney, National Gallery of Art Washington, USA Joris Dik, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands Francesca Gabrieli, Rijksmuseum, Netherlands Alessandra Gianoncelli, ELETTRA, ItalyKoen Janssens, University of Antwerp, Belgium Marcello Picollo, IFAC-CNR, Italy Paolo Romano, CNR-ISPC, Italy Karen Trentelman, Getty Conservation Institute, USA 3.From: Catharine Hawks Posted: Friday April 3, 2026 6:55 AM Subject: RE: Resource for Fire protection of cultural heritage Message: Hi Patty Many thanks! This is an outstanding resource. Cathy ------------------------------ Catharine Hawks Museum Conservator (Retired) Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (703) 200-4370 ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 04-02-2026 10:05 From: Patricia Silence Subject: Resource for Fire protection of cultural heritage I'd like to share the following resource with the conservation/collections care community: FireRiskHeritage.net is an independent platform dedicated to the protection of cultural heritage from fire and related risks. The site provides technical insights, case-based analysis, research updates, and documentation of heritage fire losses to support informed discussion among professionals and institutions. All content is developed and published independently. ------------------------------ Patricia Silence Director of Conservation Operations Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Williamsburg United States ------------------------------ 4.From: Catherine Higgitt Posted: Friday April 3, 2026 6:56 AM Subject: Twelfth MaSC Workshop and Meeting and ESCAPE workshop, Cologne, Germany, 21-25 September 2026 Message: Twelfth MaSC Workshop and Meeting and ESCAPE workshop Cologne, Germany 21-25 September 2026 We are pleased to announce that the 12th Workshop and Meeting of the Users' Group for Mass Spectrometry and Chromatography (MaSC) will take place in Cologne, Germany from Monday 21 – Friday 25 September 2026. The workshop will be held at two locations: the Cologne University of Applied Sciences, Südstadt Campus, and the German Mining Museum of the Leibniz Association, Bochum on 21 and 22 September. The conference will take place at the VHS Forum in the Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum, Cologne on 23 and 24 September. There will also be a full day of training on using the Expert System for Characterization using AMDIS Plus Excel® (ESCAPE) method for GC/MS data analysis on 25 September at the Cologne University of Applied Sciences, Südstadt Campus. Workshop, 21-22 September 2026: EGA-MS and Py-GC/MS: Complementary Approaches for Comprehensive Material Characterisation. Applications for PVC and elastomer analysis. The identification of chlorinated polymers and elastomers in samples from heritage objects poses several challenges. In both, the presence of additives such as plasticisers, fillers, the effect of ageing and/or presence of complex blends or copolymers hinders a clear identification by spectroscopic means, so that pyrolysis techniques are necessary for precise characterisation. Due to their relevance in cultural heritage collections, the timely and safe identification of these kinds of polymeric materials is paramount. The workshop will offer both theoretical and practical insights in dealing with their analysis in the heritage context, including the complementary use of EGA-MS and Py-GC/MS and focusing on methodological and practical issues. The theoretical part will be covered by Nathalie Balcar (C2RMF), with a long experience in the analysis of PVC in cultural heritage context, Caroline Bouvier and Eleonora Pellizzi (Bibliothèque nationale de France) with expertise on elastomer analysis through the project ESPyON, as well as Michael Soll (Frontier Labs). Participation in the workshop will be limited due to laboratory space constraints. Those wishing to attend are requested to submit a short bio and paragraph describing their experience with GC/MS techniques, including instrumentation, the materials they usually work with and how they would benefit from the workshop by May 31. Details regarding submission and registration will be posted shortly. Meeting, 23-24 September 2026: The conference will take place at the VHS Forum in the Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum, Cologne and will comprise discussions and presentations on novel applications of chromatographic and mass spectrometric techniques to the study of art and cultural heritage objects. Presentations of studies related to the workshop themes are encouraged, but contributions on a broad range of topics are welcome. We hope to create an informal atmosphere for the exchange of ideas, and discussions of work in progress are encouraged. Deadline for abstract submission for a paper or poster presentation will be May 31. A link to the submission platform will be posted shortly on the MaSC website (https://mascgroup.org/cologne-workshop-and-meeting-2026/ <https://mascgroup.org/cologne-workshop-and-meeting-2026/>). ESCAPE workshop, 25 September 2026: The full day of training on using the ESCAPE method for GC/MS data analysis will be held directly after the workshop and meeting at the Cologne University of Applied Sciences, Südstadt Campus. Registration fees The costs of the different parts are as follows: Full price Student price Workshops and conference (21-25 September) 375 € Conference and ESCAPE workshop (23-25 September) 175 € 125 € Conference (23-24 September) 150 € 100 € Questions can be addressed to the local organisers, Ester Ferreira ([email protected] <[email protected]>) and Elena Gómez Sánchez ([email protected] <[email protected]>), and the MaSC committee at [email protected] <[email protected]> Important deadlines Submission of abstracts for the conference May 31 Submission of applications for workshop May 31 Confirmation of acceptance of presentation or poster June 15 Confirmation of admission in workshop June 8 Deadline for registration for the conference and ESCAPE workshop August 15 On behalf of the local organisation committee Ester Ferreira and Elena Gómez Sánchez And the coordinating committee of MaSC Ilaria Bonaduce Ester Ferreira Catherine Higgitt Christopher Maines David Peggie Jennifer Poulin Ken Sutherland ------------------------------ Catherine Higgitt Principal Scientist The National Gallery London [email protected] ------------------------------ 5.From: Janin Bechstedt Posted: Friday April 3, 2026 8:39 AM Subject: RE: Discoloration of Laropal A81 retouching (Tinuvin 292?) : uneven yellowing in green areas Message: Dear Aspasia; I have worked on several distemper paintings where malachite appeared on the back of the canvas (see photos). I also did some research in the past on green pigments and pigment mixtures to obtain green colours. Thus, when I saw your post, I took a look at my samples, which date back 10-20 years. In general, only water-based samples had discolouration on the back, mainly copper acetate and nerprun. In the yellow samples, lake pigments such as stil de grain (in oil) often appeared on the back of the samples. Are you sure that the green is not a mixture? Some colourants, which dissolve in solvents, might have been used to obtain a deeper, warmer shade and they sometimes tend to "bleed". Unfortunately, we generally do not mention the pigments used for retouching, because I think there really might be a link. I agree with David that the solvent could also be at work here, but then the yellowing would probably appear more generally. This might be a very interesting research topic. Good luck and kind regards Janin Bechstedt Painting conservation Scientific imagery ------------------------------ Janin Bechstedt Painting Conservator, Multiband Imagery Art Partenaire Ville d'Avray France ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 03-31-2026 13:02 From: Aspasia Kopsida Subject: Discoloration of Laropal A81 retouching (Tinuvin 292?) : uneven yellowing in green areas Dear colleagues, My name is Aspasia Kopsida, and I am a junior conservator specializing in wood and furniture . I would greatly appreciate your insight on a treatment issue I am currently investigating. I am working on a painted wooden maquette dating from the late 18th century, which was restored in 2010. According to the treatment documentation, areas of loss were filled with Modostuc, isolated with Paraloid B-72 (30% in ethyl acetate), and retouched using loose pigments bound in Laropal A81 (20% solution in Shellsol D40/A100) with 2% Tinuvin 292 added. The object now presents noticeable yellowing in the retouched areas. This discoloration is relatively uniform across the surface, but is particularly pronounced in green passages, while appearing much less evident in whites, browns, and blacks. Solvent testing indicates that the yellowed layer can be reduced, revealing retouching beneath that appears to have retained its original color. Unfortunately, I am not able to share overall images of the object, but I have included a few close-up details for reference. I am trying to better understand the cause of this phenomenon. Given the stronger visual impact in the green areas, could this be related to the specific pigments used in those passages? Alternatively, might the discoloration be associated with the aging behavior of the Laropal A81 system or the addition of Tinuvin 292? If so, I would have expected a more consistent effect across all colors. I would be very grateful for any thoughts, references, or comparable experiences you might be able to share. My apologies if this question is too elementary, and thank you very much in advance for your time. With kind regards, Aspasia Kopsida ------------------------------ Aspasia Kopsida Conservator of Wood & Furniture Netherlands ------------------------------ 6.From: Lu Allington-Jones Posted: Friday April 3, 2026 9:28 PM Subject: Symposium on Palaeontological Preparation and Conservation 2026 Message: Hi everyone, This year the Symposium on Palaeontological Preparation and Conservation (SPPC) will be held on 17th November in Manchester (UK), immediately preceding the Geological Collections Group (GCG) Winter Seminar and AGM. For more information about SPPC and past abstracts please see: SPPC - Symposium on Palaeontological Preparation and Conservation - Geological Collections Group <https://www.geocollections.org/events/97-sppc> Abstract submission will close 1st September 2026. Best wishes, Lu, Nigel and Kieran (SPPC Committee) 7.From: JP Brown Posted: Friday April 3, 2026 9:29 PM Subject: RE: Resource for Fire protection of cultural heritage Message: Thank you for sharing - what an interesting resource! I found the article on increased fire risk from special events particularly thought-provoking. https://www.fireriskheritage.net/analysis-of-risks-and-solutions-for-cultural-heritage/when-historic-spaces-become-event-venues-the-fire-risk-hidden-behind-special-occasions/ <https://www.fireriskheritage.net/analysis-of-risks-and-solutions-for-cultural-heritage/when-historic-spaces-become-event-venues-the-fire-risk-hidden-behind-special-occasions/> JP JP Brown (he/his) Senior Conservator Vice-Chair MFT-IDG <https://www.culturalheritage.org/groups/mft-idg> Field Museum 1400 S. DuSable Lake Shore Dr. Chicago, IL 60605 fieldmuseum.org <http://fieldmuseum.org> ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 4/2/2026 10:06:00 AM From: Patricia Silence Subject: Resource for Fire protection of cultural heritage I'd like to share the following resource with the conservation/collections care community: FireRiskHeritage.net is an independent platform dedicated to the protection of cultural heritage from fire and related risks. The site provides technical insights, case-based analysis, research updates, and documentation of heritage fire losses to support informed discussion among professionals and institutions. All content is developed and published independently. ------------------------------ Patricia Silence Director of Conservation Operations Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Williamsburg United States ------------------------------ You are subscribed to "Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList)" as [email protected]. 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