Bridging the Gap: Leveraging Student Engagement in Conservation Science

This paper approaches conservation science through the lens of education, prioritising conceptual exploration over empirical outcomes. Emphasising the limitations inherent in existing instruments and databases for Cultural Heritage samples, the paper advocates for a shift towards leveraging student involvement in addressing these challenges. Key constraints include instrument compatibility with Cultural Heritage samples, limited databases, and restrictive sample preparation techniques. The paper proposes that the time availability of students presents an opportunity to develop and refine protocols, thereby overcoming these limitations. Moreover, the scarcity of samples from valuable artworks contrasts with the abundance found in deaccessioned paintings, offering a unique avenue for exploration. Mock-ups, while useful, are constrained by artificial ageing and material differences from historical sources. To illustrate these points, three analytical techniques—Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS)—will be discussed and their applicability and limitations within the context of Cultural Heritage conservation. The paper will discuss how student led projects can be used to improve methodology, sample preparation and optimisation of results. In conclusion, the paper advocates for integrating students into conservation science projects to bridge the gap between theory and practice. By harnessing student manpower, conservation science can align more closely with the methodologies of traditional scientific research, ultimately enhancing the field's efficacy and relevance.