Research

Our research ranges from fundamental research into the behaviour of materials and environments, development of methods and instruments, data science and visualisation, to development and policy support.

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 (APACHE, PaperVOC).

Recently, our work has focused on the development of heritage science infrastructure (E-RIHS PP, Iperion HS, E-RIHS.si) and new methods to be be offered to users through the European Research Infrastructure for Heritage Science, including its Slovenian node.

Our research has been continuously supported by Research Programme funding of the Slovenian Research Agency.

We have taken part in strategy development and advised various national and international bodies accordingly. Our early efforts resulted in co-coordination of the prestigious 8th EC Conference on Cultural Heritage Research in Ljubljana in 2008.

  • MATRES – Material Resilience in Times of Environmental and Social Change

    • examines resilience through a broad and integrated approach that includes landscapes, materials, human bodies, and digital technologies.
    • development of a digital twin to support hypothesis testing, scenario planning and decision-making for sustainable cultural heritage management and spatial planning.

    Role in the project: Project Partner
    Funding: University of Ljubljana (UL) – VIP MATRES (€ 2.275m)
    Duration: 1.11.2025 – 31.10.2030

    MATRES – Material Resilience in Times of Environmental and Social Change

    • examines resilience through a broad and integrated approach that includes landscapes, materials, human bodies, and digital technologies.
    • development of a digital twin to support hypothesis testing, scenario planning and decision-making for sustainable cultural heritage management and spatial planning.

    Role in the project: Project Partner
    Funding: University of Ljubljana (UL) – VIP MATRES (€ 2.275m)
    Duration: 1.11.2025 – 31.10.2030

  • AID HCH – Advancing Humanities and Cultural Heritage with Artificial Intelligence

    • explore and develop methodological and theoretical frameworks for the use of artificial intelligence in humanistic research and in the preservation of cultural heritage.
    • establish Slovenia’s first comprehensive data space for humanities and heritage (SHHDS).

    Role in the project: Project Partner
    Funding: Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS) J7-6012 (EUR 1.5m)
    Facebook: AID HCH | Maribor | Facebook
    Instagram: J7-6012: AID HCH (@aid.hch) • Instagram photos and videos

    Duration: 1.1.2025 – 31.12.2027

    AID HCH – Advancing Humanities and Cultural Heritage with Artificial Intelligence

    • explore and develop methodological and theoretical frameworks for the use of artificial intelligence in humanistic research and in the preservation of cultural heritage.
    • establish Slovenia’s first comprehensive data space for humanities and heritage (SHHDS).

    Role in the project: Project Partner
    Funding: Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS) J7-6012 (EUR 1.5m)
    Facebook: AID HCH | Maribor | Facebook
    Instagram: J7-6012: AID HCH (@aid.hch) • Instagram photos and videos

    Duration: 1.1.2025 – 31.12.2027

  • smell and intangible cultural heritage

    • The project investigates smell as a cultural phenomenon and its use in Slovenian museums, focusing on olfactory heritage, social prejudices, and the impact of smell on quality of life
    • Goals include developing methods to identify olfactory references, creating digital tools, educating heritage professionals, and crafting policy recommendations for preserving olfactory heritage

    Role in the project: Project Coordinator
    Funding: ARIS J7-50233 (€1.2M)

    Duration:  1.7.2024 – 30.6.2027

    smell and intangible cultural heritage

    • The project investigates smell as a cultural phenomenon and its use in Slovenian museums, focusing on olfactory heritage, social prejudices, and the impact of smell on quality of life
    • Goals include developing methods to identify olfactory references, creating digital tools, educating heritage professionals, and crafting policy recommendations for preserving olfactory heritage

    Role in the project: Project Coordinator
    Funding: ARIS J7-50233 (€1.2M)

    Duration:  1.7.2024 – 30.6.2027

  • NextGenHS – Next generation analytical tools for heritage science

    • Next generation analytical tools for heritage scinece
    • Development of new analytical methods and techniques for historic biomaterials

    Role in the project: Project Coordinator
    Funding: J7-50226

    Duration:  1.7.2024 – 30.6.2027

    NextGenHS – Next generation analytical tools for heritage science

    • Next generation analytical tools for heritage scinece
    • Development of new analytical methods and techniques for historic biomaterials

    Role in the project: Project Coordinator
    Funding: J7-50226

    Duration:  1.7.2024 – 30.6.2027

  • SloveNile – Slovenian-Egyptian Heritage Science Platform

    • The SloveNile project fosters Slovenian-Egyptian cooperation in heritage science, focusing on sustainability, green and digital transitions, and enhancing the role of cultural heritage through interdisciplinary research.
    • The project aims to develop innovative tools for heritage science research, facilitate new academic programs, and strengthen international collaboration between Slovenia and Egypt, particularly through sustainability and strategic partnerships within the EU framework.

    Role in the project: Project Coordinator
    Funding: University of Ljubljana

    Duration: 1.10.2024 – 1.10.2026

    SloveNile – Slovenian-Egyptian Heritage Science Platform

    • The SloveNile project fosters Slovenian-Egyptian cooperation in heritage science, focusing on sustainability, green and digital transitions, and enhancing the role of cultural heritage through interdisciplinary research.
    • The project aims to develop innovative tools for heritage science research, facilitate new academic programs, and strengthen international collaboration between Slovenia and Egypt, particularly through sustainability and strategic partnerships within the EU framework.

    Role in the project: Project Coordinator
    Funding: University of Ljubljana

    Duration: 1.10.2024 – 1.10.2026

  • Stucco Marble Altars in Slovenia: Materials, Conservation, and Meaning

    • Collection of information on the composition, technique, state of preservation and appropriate treatments of baroque stucco marble on Slovene territory
    • Zbiranje podatkov o sestavi, tehniki, ohranjenosti in ustreznih obdelavah baročnega štukaturnega marmorja na slovenskem ozemlju

    Role in the project: Project Coordinator
    Funding: J7-50093

    Duration: 1. 10. 2023 – 30. 9. 2026

    Stucco Marble Altars in Slovenia: Materials, Conservation, and Meaning

    • Collection of information on the composition, technique, state of preservation and appropriate treatments of baroque stucco marble on Slovene territory
    • Zbiranje podatkov o sestavi, tehniki, ohranjenosti in ustreznih obdelavah baročnega štukaturnega marmorja na slovenskem ozemlju

    Role in the project: Project Coordinator
    Funding: J7-50093

    Duration: 1. 10. 2023 – 30. 9. 2026

  • Citizen Science–Driven Value-Based Strategic Direction of Scientific Research of Heritage

    • understand how citizens perceive, value, and interpret cultural heritage including its social, environmental, and economic dimensions through large-scale participatory research.
    • develop and test participatory methodologies that integrate citizen perspectives into heritage research and management.

    Role in the project: Project Coordinator
    Funding: 20-PRJ.50226.O-124 (Carried out within: NextGenHS)

    Duration:  15.7.2025 – 30.6.2027

    Citizen Science–Driven Value-Based Strategic Direction of Scientific Research of Heritage

    • understand how citizens perceive, value, and interpret cultural heritage including its social, environmental, and economic dimensions through large-scale participatory research.
    • develop and test participatory methodologies that integrate citizen perspectives into heritage research and management.

    Role in the project: Project Coordinator
    Funding: 20-PRJ.50226.O-124 (Carried out within: NextGenHS)

    Duration:  15.7.2025 – 30.6.2027

  • SAFESILK – Metal salt-induced silk degradation in heritage collections

    • Metal salt-induced silk degradation in heritage collections
    • Razumevanje in preprečevanje razgradnje s predhodnimi kovinami obdelane svile v zbirkah kulturne dediščine

    Role in the project: Co-coordination
    Funding: N1-250, WEAVE programme in collaboration between FWO (The Research Foundation – Flanders) and ARRS (Slovenian Research Agency) – €800k

    Duration:  1. 1. 2022 – 31. 12. 2025

    SAFESILK – Metal salt-induced silk degradation in heritage collections

    • Metal salt-induced silk degradation in heritage collections
    • Razumevanje in preprečevanje razgradnje s predhodnimi kovinami obdelane svile v zbirkah kulturne dediščine

    Role in the project: Co-coordination
    Funding: N1-250, WEAVE programme in collaboration between FWO (The Research Foundation – Flanders) and ARRS (Slovenian Research Agency) – €800k

    Duration:  1. 1. 2022 – 31. 12. 2025

  • GREENART – Green Restoration

    • Green Restoration
    • Trajnostno restavriranje

    Role in the project: Project Coordinator
    Funding: Horizon Europe Framework Programme

    Duration: 1. 10. 2022 – 1. 10. 2025

    GREENART – Green Restoration

    • Green Restoration
    • Trajnostno restavriranje

    Role in the project: Project Coordinator
    Funding: Horizon Europe Framework Programme

    Duration: 1. 10. 2022 – 1. 10. 2025

  • ARCHE – Alliance for Research on Cultural Heritage in Europe

    • Alliance for Research on Cultural Heritage in Europe
    • Zveza za raziskovanje kulturne dediščine v Evropi

    Role in the project: Project Coordinator
    Funding: Horizon Europe Framework Programme

    Duration:  1. 7. 2022 – 30. 6. 2025

    ARCHE – Alliance for Research on Cultural Heritage in Europe

    • Alliance for Research on Cultural Heritage in Europe
    • Zveza za raziskovanje kulturne dediščine v Evropi

    Role in the project: Project Coordinator
    Funding: Horizon Europe Framework Programme

    Duration:  1. 7. 2022 – 30. 6. 2025