AHRC programme boosts heritage science and conservation

Digital digital modelling of artefacts, the care and curation of archaeological human remains, adapting traditional buildings to help net zero, and protecting culture from climate change are among 31 projects that have received grants to boost the UK’s heritage science and conservation capability.

The funding programme has been developed by the UKRI Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), which said the aim is to “unlock the potential of existing heritage collections and provide access to untapped cultural assets to safeguard and grow the UK’s £29bn heritage sector and kickstart economic growth”.

The projects in the first phase of the Research Infrastructure for Conservation and Heritage Science (RICHeS) programme will share £37m. The programme is funded by an £80m investment from the UKRI Infrastructure Fund and is being delivered by AHRC.

Tate, National Trust, Historic Environment Scotland and London’s National Gallery are among the 100-plus partners from across all four nations of the UK and overseas that are participating in the programme.

AHRC executive chair Christopher Smith said: “Using the latest technology and scientific equipment, this programme will support access to heritage collections, grow the UK’s heritage economy and drive technological innovation in areas such as material science. 

“With 31 sites across all four devolved administrations and a network of 117 partners in three continents, RICHeS is UKRI’s largest distributed infrastructure and an undisputed world-first. It is an example of how AHRC works at the heart of UKRI to drive interdisciplinary science which benefits citizens, society and the economy.”

Collections

Material History: Hosting a cross section of National Trust properties and collections
Led by Rebecca Hellen, National Trust

Scotland’s Archaeological Human Remains Collection (SAHRC)
Led by Matthew Knight, National Museums Scotland

Ark of the North: opening up access to animal bone reference collections in northern Scotland
Led by Kate Britton, University of Aberdeen

Establishing Tate’s Conservation and Heritage Science Archive (CHSA)
Led by Louise Lawson, Tate

The Reynolds Digital Research Resource: access to rich heritage science data in its multidisciplinary context and a template for future initiatives
Led by Marika Spring, National Gallery, London

Biocultural Heritage Information in a Virtual Environment (Biocultural HIVE)
Led by Catriona McKenzie, University of Exeter

University of Sheffield Bioarchaeology Collections (SHEFF BIOARCH)
Led by Umberto Albarella, University of Sheffield

Reconstructing the ancient past: Digital access and visibility of the Garstang distributed collection
Led by Joanne Fitton, University of Liverpool

Advancing Access to the UCL Archaeological Reference Collections (A3RC)
Led by Kevin MacDonald, University College London

Heritage Science Collections Hub: South HSCH:S
Led by Gill Campbell, Historic England

Transforming Access to Mediterranean Cultural Heritage Science Collections
Led by Mark Jackson, Newcastle University

Empowering Safety: Hazardous Materials Awareness, Identification and Management
Led by Michelle Stoddart, Science Museum

HRP REsearch Vault for HEritAge Science CoLlections (REVEAL)
Led by Constantina Vlachou-Mogire, Historic Royal Palaces

 

Facilities

Coastal and Inland Waters Heritage Science Facility
Led by Fraser Sturt, University of Southampton

BIOARC-HS: Biomolecular tools for Archaeological, Conservation and Heritage Science
Led by Oliver Craig, University of York

Multiscale Heritage X-ray Imaging Centre
Led by Daniel O’Flynn, British Museum

Creating a national integrated mobile and fixed lab for collections, historic buildings and sites
Led by David Thickett, Historic England

Institute for Heritage and Environmental Science: 14CHRONO for RICHeS
Led by Patrick Gleeson, Queen’s University Belfast

Archaeology and the Environment Science Facility (AEonS)
Led by Ingrid Mainland, University of the Highlands and Islands

Retrofit Centre for Traditional Buildings
Led by David Mitchell, Historic Environment Scotland

AHRC Centre for Chemical Characterisation in Heritage Science (C3HS)
Led by Lucy Cramp, University of Bristol

NeMCAS Phase II
Led by Lisa-Marie Shillito, Newcastle University

Accessing Modern and Contemporary Art Materials Research
Led by Bronwyn Ormsbym, Tate

Oxford Collaboration in Heritage Science Research and Engagement (OCHRE)
Led by Heather Viles, University of Oxford

From Land to Sea: a facility for prospection, landscapes and people
Led by Catherine Batt, University of Bradford

Nottingham Heritage Science Gateway (NHSG)
Led by Holly Miller, University of Nottingham

BFI National Archive Moving Image Conservation Research Laboratory (MICRL)
Led by Kieron Webb, British Film Institute

The National Archives Centre for Heritage Science and Conservation Research
Led by Juergen Vervoorst, National Archives

Centre for Digital Modelling and Analysis, for Conservation and Heritage
Led by Benjamin Edwards, Manchester Metropolitan University

PERFFORM: Built Heritage for Communities and Collections
Led by Nicola Emmerson, Cardiff University

 

Digital Resource Service

Heritage Science Data Service (HSDS)
Led by Julian Richards, University of York