If you haven’t enrolled yet, please look at code 6684.
If you have already enrolled, the course code is available in Studenti Online.
6684 - Science for the Conservation-Restoration of Cultural Heritage
The second cycle degree programme in Science for the Conservation-Restoration of Cultural Heritage aims to train ‘Conservation Scientists’, i.e. master’s graduates that combine an extensive and up-to-date expertise in cultural heritage investigation techniques with advanced knowledge of the characteristics, properties and degradation of the materials of which cultural heritage is made, and which are used for restoration, as well as basic knowledge in history of art and archaeology. Such background will allow master’s graduates in this class to participate in the design, implementation and monitoring of cultural heritage diagnostics, conservation and restoration projects based on the specialist skills acquired in the fields of property characterisation, material composition, deterioration and ancient production techniques of cultural heritage and the development of new materials and methods of intervention and diagnosis. Master’s graduates will be able to collaborate with other restoration professionals, plan strategies for the correct conservation and restoration of cultural heritage and establish appropriate measures to slow down the deterioration process.
The study programme covers four semesters; during the first two, students are introduced to the applications of the various chemical, analytical, physical, biological, mineralogical methods for the diagnosis, study and characterisation of the deterioration phenomena of cultural. The first semester of year II focuses on the basic knowledge of the chemometric methods normally used in the analysis of data from analytical investigations on cultural heritage and the principles underlying the various restoration operations applied to different types of works of art. It also introduces the main management principles applied to museum collections and sites of archaeological interest, allowing conservation scientists to contextualise their potential role in and contribution to such institutional situations.
Teaching and specialist laboratory activities, preferably case-study oriented, as well as dissertation preparation activities, which may also be carried out at public and private cultural heritage research and conservation institutes, allow graduates to establish a direct relationship with the other professionals involved, and develop and support arguments with a view to solving concrete conservation and restoration problems.
The aforementioned skills are gained through critical reflection on the texts recommended for self-study, prompted by classroom activities, the study of research and application cases presented by teachers, practical laboratory work, bibliographic and field research, individual and/or group projects – particularly within the following basic and core subject groups: Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Mineralogy, History of Art –, as well as during preparation for the final examination.
The aforementioned skills are assessed through both written and oral exams, reports and laboratory work, which envisages the performance of specific tasks allowing students to demonstrate mastery of tools and methodologies and critical autonomy.
