On 13 May, a Cultural Heritage Workshop was held as part of the official program for the Laserlab-Europe Annual Meeting 2025. The workshop, which was led by Sara Mosca focused on the role of advanced laser science and technology in cultural heritage, featuring presentations from leading institutions.
Highlights and insights
Keynote talks included insights from the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source (STFC, UK) on the use of large-scale facilities for non-invasive analysis by Antonella Scherillo, and an overview of the Arts&Humanities Research Council (AHRC, UK) RICHeS programme by associate director Tao Chang, outlining funding and networking opportunities in heritage science.
Partners from Laserlab-Europe, including CUSBO/Polimi (Daniela Cormelli), CLF (Sara Mosca), LaserLaB Amsterdam (Katrien Keune), FORTH (Anastasia Giakoumaki), and Coimbra Laser Lab (Sergio Seixas de Melo), presented their institutional capabilities and discussed key challenges, including the need for interdisciplinary collaboration, sustainable practices, and the translation of lab-based methods into portable solutions. The latter is especially important for studying valuable works of art which are often difficult and/or expensive (e.g. insurance fees, handling cost) to transport to the expert laboratory.
The round table emphasized the importance of reinforced facility access (make it easier for outside users to find the relevant facilities on the LLE website), training opportunities, and inter-facility coordination. Looking ahead, the expert group identified priorities such as building interoperable networks (e.g. a new ARIE project), promoting co-funded initiatives, and organizing targeted events to bridge the gap between science and curatorial practice.
Next steps for our newly launched Expert Group
The discussion also served to define the objectives of the newly formed Cultural Heritage Expert Group within Laserlab-Europe, including the organisation of training events, hands-on workshops, and webinars to foster interdisciplinary exchange. Emphasis was placed on enhancing public communication, improving the narrative around heritage science, and strengthening cross-sector collaboration through shared success stories and joint funding opportunities, crucial steps to address the evolving needs of the field. A next (virtual) meeting will be organized in September/October 2025.