Welcome to

Heritage Science
Laboratory Ljubljana

Welcome to

Heritage Science
Laboratory Ljubljana

We are based at the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology of the University of Ljubjana and are a diverse group of researchers addressing interdisciplinary heritage science research questions. These often require cutting edge scientific skills and facilities, but also a highly collaborative approach to research. To read more about what shapes our research philosophy, consider this editorial by the Lab Lead, professor Matija Strlič.

Featured news

and events

  • Large Interdisciplinary Project MATRES Approved for Funding by the University of Ljubljana

    October 23rd, 2025IResearchI

    The Heritage Science Lab Ljubljana is excited to announce a new highly interdisciplinary project funded by the University of Ljubljana titled MATRES  - Material Resilience in Times of Environmental and Social Change. In collaboration with teams at the Faculty of [...]

  • New Publication: “ The Impact of Technologies in Heritage Management: Non-Monetary Valuation”

    October 16th, 2025IPublicationI

    The Heritage Science Laboratory Ljubljana is delighted to announce a new publication authored by Lana Nastja Anžur and prof. dr. Matija Strlič, titled “Učinek tehnologij pri upravljanju dediščine: nedenarno vrednotenje” (“The Impact of Technologies in Heritage Management: Non-Monetary Valuation”, published [...]

  • Lavrin Egyptian Evening: Studies on the Smells of Ancient Egyptian Mummified Bodies

    October 16th, 2025IImpactI

    On Thursday, 23 October 2025, the 7th Lavrin Egyptian Evening will take place at the Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana (Lecture Room 325), featuring a guest lecture titled “Studies on the Smells of Ancient Egyptian Mummified Bodies.” The lecture [...]

  • New Project »Citizen Science-Driven Value-Based Strategic Direction of Scientific Research of Heritage«

    October 3rd, 2025IImpactI

    We are delighted to announce that a new project has been launched in collaboration with the NextGenHS project, focusing on the role of citizens in the evaluation of cultural heritage. The project is led by Prof. Dr. Irena Kralj Cigić [...]

  • Experiences Through Sensorial Language in Arts and Heritage

    August 29th, 2025IPublicationI

    The Art of Sensorial Language examines audience interactivity and multisensory experiences that can be understood internationally and cross‑culturally. It considers interactivity not as a technological mode of interaction but as a direct and immediate communication between the audience and the [...]

  • Dry Swabbing for Non-destructive Mass Spectrometry Analysis of PVC surfaces

    August 22nd, 2025IPublicationI

    Researchers from the Heritage Science Laboratory Ljubljana and the Smithsonian Institution have developed a non-destructive method for characterising surface exudates on PVC objects using high-resolution mass spectrometry. The approach relies on simple dry swabbing, designed to be accessible to museums [...]

Featured news

and events

  • Large Interdisciplinary Project MATRES Approved for Funding by the University of Ljubljana

    October 23rd, 2025IResearchI

    The Heritage Science Lab Ljubljana is excited to announce a new highly interdisciplinary project funded by the University of Ljubljana titled MATRES  - Material Resilience in Times of Environmental and Social Change. In collaboration with teams at the Faculty of [...]

  • New Publication: “ The Impact of Technologies in Heritage Management: Non-Monetary Valuation”

    October 16th, 2025IPublicationI

    The Heritage Science Laboratory Ljubljana is delighted to announce a new publication authored by Lana Nastja Anžur and prof. dr. Matija Strlič, titled “Učinek tehnologij pri upravljanju dediščine: nedenarno vrednotenje” (“The Impact of Technologies in Heritage Management: Non-Monetary Valuation”, published [...]

  • Lavrin Egyptian Evening: Studies on the Smells of Ancient Egyptian Mummified Bodies

    October 16th, 2025IImpactI

    On Thursday, 23 October 2025, the 7th Lavrin Egyptian Evening will take place at the Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana (Lecture Room 325), featuring a guest lecture titled “Studies on the Smells of Ancient Egyptian Mummified Bodies.” The lecture [...]

  • New Project »Citizen Science-Driven Value-Based Strategic Direction of Scientific Research of Heritage«

    October 3rd, 2025IImpactI

    We are delighted to announce that a new project has been launched in collaboration with the NextGenHS project, focusing on the role of citizens in the evaluation of cultural heritage. The project is led by Prof. Dr. Irena Kralj Cigić [...]

  • Experiences Through Sensorial Language in Arts and Heritage

    August 29th, 2025IPublicationI

    The Art of Sensorial Language examines audience interactivity and multisensory experiences that can be understood internationally and cross‑culturally. It considers interactivity not as a technological mode of interaction but as a direct and immediate communication between the audience and the [...]

  • Dry Swabbing for Non-destructive Mass Spectrometry Analysis of PVC surfaces

    August 22nd, 2025IPublicationI

    Researchers from the Heritage Science Laboratory Ljubljana and the Smithsonian Institution have developed a non-destructive method for characterising surface exudates on PVC objects using high-resolution mass spectrometry. The approach relies on simple dry swabbing, designed to be accessible to museums [...]

Active projects

We have led EU collaborative projects focussed on the development of non-destructive characterisation of cultural heritage (SurveNIR, PAPYLUM), and collaborated in projects on the development and evaluation of new conservation interventions (InkCor, Laclepa) and preventive conservation strategies (GreenArt, APACHE, PaperVOC). Recently, our work has focused on the development of heritage science infrastructure (E-RIHS IP, E-RIHS PP, Iperion HS) and new methods offered to users through the European Research Infrastructure for Heritage Science, including its Slovenian node.

The research projects are underpinned by two block funding grants of the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency: Research Programme N-DAD and Infrastructure Programme E-RIHS.SI.

Active projects

We have led EU collaborative projects focussed on the development of non-destructive characterisation of cultural heritage (SurveNIR, PAPYLUM), and collaborated in projects on the development and evaluation of new conservation interventions (InkCor, Laclepa) and preventive conservation strategies (GreenArt, APACHE, PaperVOC). Recently, our work has focused on the development of heritage science infrastructure (E-RIHS IP, E-RIHS PP, Iperion HS) and new methods to be be offered to users in the future European Research Infrastructure for Heritage Science, including its Slovenian node.

The research projects are underpinned by two stable funding grants: Research Programme N-DAD and Infrastructure Programme E-RIHS.SI.