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

  • Book Chapter Published on Systemic and Sustainable Cultural Heritage Management

    June 5th, 2026IPublicationI

    Researchers from the Heritage Science Laboratory Ljubljana have contributed a book chapter to the recently published volume Cultural Heritage Re-imagined: A Systemic Approach to Theory, Practice, and Management, edited by Matthias Ripp, Sushobhan Majumdar, and Claire Cave and published as [...]

  • E-RIHS.si at Work: HSLL at the 26th International Meeting of Conservators-Restorers

    June 1st, 2026IImpactI

    On 25 May 2026, the Heritage Science Laboratory Ljubljana (HSLL) participated in the 26th International Meeting of Conservators-Restorers, organised by the Conservator-Restorers’ Society of Slovenia (DRS) at the Posavje Museum in Brežice, Slovenia. Ibrahim Elrefaey presented a poster and a [...]

  • SloveNile Platform at the EUTOPIA Science Diplomacy Summit in Brussels

    May 14th, 2026IImpactI

    SloveNile (The Slovenian Egyptian Heritage Science Platform) has been invited to be presented at the EUTOPIA Science Diplomacy Global Conference, taking place on 29 May 2026 at the Fondation Universitaire in Brussels. This participation highlights SloveNile as a concrete model [...]

  • MitiClim – Climate Change Mitigation Strategies for the Preservation of Slovenian Written Cultural Heritage Kick Off Meeting

    May 14th, 2026IImpact, ResearchI

    The ARIS research project MitiClim (J7-70270),  officially launched on April 21, 2026, at the National and University Library (NUK). MitiClim addresses the escalating challenges that climate change poses to the preservation of written cultural heritage. The research focuses on developing [...]

  • Chemistry for Cultural Heritage 2026

    January 29th, 2026IImpact, ResearchI

    The Chemistry for Cultural Heritage Working Party of the EuChemS (European Chemical Society) is delighted to announce the 8th Conference on Chemistry for Cultural Heritage to be held in Bled, Slovenia, from 8-11 June 2026! The ChemCH conference series has [...]

  • 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 [...]

Featured news

and events

  • Book Chapter Published on Systemic and Sustainable Cultural Heritage Management

    June 5th, 2026IPublicationI

    Researchers from the Heritage Science Laboratory Ljubljana have contributed a book chapter to the recently published volume Cultural Heritage Re-imagined: A Systemic Approach to Theory, Practice, and Management, edited by Matthias Ripp, Sushobhan Majumdar, and Claire Cave and published as [...]

  • E-RIHS.si at Work: HSLL at the 26th International Meeting of Conservators-Restorers

    June 1st, 2026IImpactI

    On 25 May 2026, the Heritage Science Laboratory Ljubljana (HSLL) participated in the 26th International Meeting of Conservators-Restorers, organised by the Conservator-Restorers’ Society of Slovenia (DRS) at the Posavje Museum in Brežice, Slovenia. Ibrahim Elrefaey presented a poster and a [...]

  • SloveNile Platform at the EUTOPIA Science Diplomacy Summit in Brussels

    May 14th, 2026IImpactI

    SloveNile (The Slovenian Egyptian Heritage Science Platform) has been invited to be presented at the EUTOPIA Science Diplomacy Global Conference, taking place on 29 May 2026 at the Fondation Universitaire in Brussels. This participation highlights SloveNile as a concrete model [...]

  • MitiClim – Climate Change Mitigation Strategies for the Preservation of Slovenian Written Cultural Heritage Kick Off Meeting

    May 14th, 2026IImpact, ResearchI

    The ARIS research project MitiClim (J7-70270),  officially launched on April 21, 2026, at the National and University Library (NUK). MitiClim addresses the escalating challenges that climate change poses to the preservation of written cultural heritage. The research focuses on developing [...]

  • Chemistry for Cultural Heritage 2026

    January 29th, 2026IImpact, ResearchI

    The Chemistry for Cultural Heritage Working Party of the EuChemS (European Chemical Society) is delighted to announce the 8th Conference on Chemistry for Cultural Heritage to be held in Bled, Slovenia, from 8-11 June 2026! The ChemCH conference series has [...]

  • 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 [...]

  • Innovative Sampling of Snuffbox Smells using HiSorb Probes

    March 11th, 2026IImpact, ResearchI

    Doctoral student Emma Paolin with colleagues from the Heritage Science Laboratory Ljubljana and the National Museum of Slovenia (NMS) have published a new study evaluating non-invasive sampling devices for heritage objects. The research compared the recently developed HiSorb probes with [...]

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.