Prospects

The obtainment of the Master’s degree qualifies students to be enrolled into PhD studies of the Mathematical, Physical and Natural Science Faculty of the University of Bologna.

Job market

Graduates will be able to carry out the following professional role and functions:

Conservation scientist

"A Conservation Scientist today can be defined as a scientist with a degree in one of the natural, physical and/or applied scientific disciplines and with further knowledge in conservation (ethics, history, cultural values, historical technologies, past and present conservation technologies and practice, specific scientific aspects, etc.) which enables him/her to contribute to the study and conservation of cultural heritage within an interdisciplinary team"(1).

(1) University Postgraduate Curricula for Conservation Scientists, Proceedings of the International Seminar, Bologna, Italy, 26-27 November 1999, ICCROM, Rome, 2000

Functions that describe the role of a Conservation Scientist

Study, investigate and monitor cultural heritage and its environment with respect to conservation and preservation.
Define, develop and evaluate conservation concepts, materials, measures, methods and techniques and develop standards and guidelines.
Provide diagnosis before, during and after conservation interventions.
Conduct research on causes and mechanisms of deterioration and interpret scientific results for the benefit of the conservation of cultural heritage.
Communicate the scientific principles of conservation and promote scientific research in conservation.
Co-operate with other disciplines.

Career opportunities:

private and public conservation-restoration, forensic and research institutions

Find out more about the Ministerial Single Annual Report (SUA-CdS - Single Annual Report on Degree Programmes)

Corso di Science for the Conservation-Restoration of Cultural Heritage - codice 8537

Professional profiles professional profile Function in a professional context: For career purposes, art. 29 of D. Lgs. no. 42 of 24.01.2004 (Cultural Heritage and Landscape Act) expressly refers to the fact… Read more

Professional profiles

professional profile

Function in a professional context:
For career purposes, art. 29 of D. Lgs. no. 42 of 24.01.2004 (Cultural Heritage and Landscape Act) expressly refers to the fact that, in addition to the professional profile of “conservator-restorer of cultural heritage”, for which a single cycle degree programme has recently been established, other professional figures perform activities that are complementary to the conservation and restoration of cultural heritage. These complementary activities include those performed by qualified Conservation Scientist, a professional figure recently established by MIBAC and for which a 2nd cycle degree in Class 11 is required (MIBAC circular no. 81 of 16.03.2009, protocol no. 9384).
This professional profile:
- Designs diagnostic campaigns , identifies methods, materials, measures and techniques used to recover, conserve and restore cultural heritage;
- Designs conservation and restoration projects on cultural heritage in order to enhance their legibility, use and knowledge;
- Designs diagnostics protocols for the conservation of cultural heritage;
- Manages cultural heritage diagnostics and/or conservation projects;
- Designs and implements information systems for processing cultural heritage data;
- Consults in a freelance capacity or as an employee in firms or organisations for the conservation, management and protection of cultural heritage, local authorities and specific institutions and offices, museums, archives, libraries and public and private research institutes working in conservation;
- In a wider context of the design and implementation of restoration projects, identifies, implements and assesses diagnostic methods to understand the properties, material composition and/or deterioration of cultural heritage, ancient production techniques and the development of new restoration materials and methods.
Competencies associated to the function:
Graduates:
Know how to use and apply even complex chemical, physical and mineralogical diagnostic analytical techniques and tools in the field of cultural heritage conservation;
Are able to operate using specialist knowledge in public and private institutes in charge of protecting the cultural heritage in Italian and international research in conservation and restoration institutes;
Are able to design, monitor and assess, using even complex analytical equipment, restoration works, understanding their structural characteristics and the features and properties of the materials they are made of;
Are able to perform specialist diagnostic analyses on materials, even in contexts which are not strictly linked to cultural heritage;
Use computer systems to manage and process analytical data and documentation on the state of conservation and the works performed.
Teaching activities and specialist workshops are case-study oriented, while the problem-solving oriented activities carried out for the production and presentation of the final dissertation, which may also be carried out in public or private research and conservation institutes, offer students direct contact with other professional figures, helping them to develop and support opinions to solve concrete restoration and conservation problems.
The above skills are acquired through the critical study of texts proposed for self-study, stimulated by classroom activities, research of case studies and applications presented by the teaching staff, practical laboratory work, bibliographic research and field work, individual and group work in the following core course units: chemistry, physics, biology, mineralogy, computing and historical-artistic studies, as well as during the preparation of the final examination.
These skills are assessed through written and oral exams, assignments and workshop activities and the execution of specific tasks demonstrating the students' command of tools, methods and critical autonomy.
Career opportunities:
- Public and private research bodies and universities
- Offices of the Ministry of Heritage and Cultural Activity (MIBAC) involved in the protection of Cultural Heritage (superintendences, museums, libraries, archives, etc.)
- Restoration workshops
- Professional organisations and firms working in the field of diagnostics, conservation and restoration of cultural heritage.

Continuing to study

It gives access to third cycle studies (Dottorato di ricerca/Scuole di specializzazione) and master universitario di secondo livello.