Heritage Science Laboratory Ljubljana
Research & Projects
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 in the future 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.
- 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
- 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
- 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
- The interdisciplinary team consists of archaeological, chemical, wood science and pedological researchers.
- Impact study of the environmental changes on the buried wood found in the archaeological sites of the Ljubljana Marsh
Role in the project: Project Coordinator
Funding: University of Ljubljana, Development pillar
Duration: 1.4.2024 – 30.9.2024
- Non-destructive spatially resolved analysis and data-driven diagnostics
- Delivering knowledge and skills for the chemical, engineering and related sectors where clear gaps have been identified
Role in the project: Project Coordinator
Funding: P1-0447
Duration: 1. 1. 2024 –
- Green Restoration
- Trajnostno restavriranje
Role in the project: Project Coordinator
Funding: Horizon Europe Framework Programme
Duration: 1. 10. 2023 – 1. 10. 2026
- 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
- European Research Infrastructure for Heritage Science Implementation Phase
- Izvedbena faza Evropske raziskovalne infrastrukture za dediščinsko znanost
Role in the project: Project Coordinator
Funding: Horizon Europe Framework Programme I0-E012
Duration: 1. 7. 2022 – 30. 6. 2025
- 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
- Ancient Book Crafts
- Materiali knjižne dediščine
Role in the project: Project Coordinator
Funding: N1-0271, WEAVE programme in collaboration between FWF (The Science Fund – Austria) and ARRS (Slovenian Research Agency) – €300k
Duration: 1. 7. 2022 – 30. 6. 2025
- 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. 2024
- Preventive Conservation Strategies for Poly(vinyl chloride) Objects
- Strategije za preventivno konserviranje dediščine iz poli(vinil klorida)
Role in the project: Co-coordination
Funding: N1-0241, CEUS scheme in collaboration between NCN (Narodowe Centrum Nauki) and ARRS (Slovenian Research Agency) – €300k
Duration: 1. 1. 2022 – 31. 12. 2024
- International archive of smells of heritage objects
- Mednarodni arhiv vonjav predmetov kulturne dediščine
Role in the project: Project Coordinator
Funding: N1-0228, CEUS scheme in collaboration between NCN (Narodowe Centrum Nauki) and ARRS (Slovenian Research Agency) – €800k
Duration: 1. 12. 2021 – 1. 12. 2024
- Effects of lignin degradation on paper-based materials in extreme conditions
- Vplivi razgradnje lignina na materiale na papirni osnovi v skrajnih pogojih
Role in the project: Coordination
Funding: J4-3085 Slovenian Research Agency (€300k)
Duration: 1. 10. 2021 – 30. 9. 2024
- Understanding the material culture of Islamic paper and inks
- Razumevanje materialne kulture islamskega papirja in črnil
Role in the project: Coordination
Funding: Marie Skłodowska Curie Fellowship project
Duration: 1. 10. 2021 – 30. 9. 2023
- Uncertainty of lifetime modelling based on quantitative IR spectroscopy
- Negotovost modeliranja življenjske dobe na podlagi kvantitativne IR spektroskopije
Role in the project: Coordination
Funding: Marie Skłodowska Curie Fellowship project
Duration: 1. 10. 2021 – 30. 9. 2023
- Integrating Platforms for the European Research Infrastructure ON Heritage Science
- Integrirane platforme za evropsko raziskovalno infrastrukturo dediščinske znanosti
See the Project website and the Cordis website.
Role in the project: Partner (3rd Party)
Funding: European Commission Horizon 2020 Programme (€6.5M)
Duration: 1. 4. 2020 – 31. 3. 2023
- Sustainable Management of Cultural Heritage in the Balkans in Response to Climate Change
- Trajnostno upravljanje kulturne dediščine na Balkanu kot odziv na podnebne spremembe
See the Project website SMACH.
Role in the project: Partner
Funding: CEI Know-how Exchange Programme supported by the CEI Fund at the EBRD
Duration: 15. 3. 2021 – 28. 2. 2022
- APACHE – Active & intelligent PAckaging materials and display cases as a tool for preventive conservation of Cultural Heritage
- Aktivni in inteligentni materiali za transport, shranjevanje in razstavljanje predmetov kulturne dediščine kot orodje za preventivno konserviranje
See the Project website and the Cordis website.
Role in the project: Partner
Funding: European Commission Horizon 2020 Programme (€7.8M)
Duration: 1. 1. 2019 – 30. 6. 2022
- The European Research Infrastructure for Heritage Science Preparatory Phase
Evropska raziskovalna infrastruktura za dediščinsko znanost Pripravljalna faza
See the Project website and the Cordis website.
Role in the project: Partner
Funding: European Commission Horizon 2020 Programme (€4M)
Duration: 1. 2. 2017 – 30. 9. 2020
CHRESP
- Cultural heritage reserch meets practice
- Raziskave kulturne dediščine v praksi
See the Cordis website and Book of Abstracts.
Role in the project: Partner
Funding: European Commission 6th Framework Programme (€0.36M)
Duration: 1. 4. 2008 – 31. 7. 2009
PaperVOC
- VOCs in paper-based cultural heritage collections -source of information or risk?
- PaperVOC: Hlapne organske snovi v zbirkah kulturne dediščine na papirju – vir informacij ali zdravstveno tveganje?
See the Project website and SICRIS website.
Role in the project: Coordination
Funding: Slovenian Research Agency (SIT 8M) and Nationaal Archief
Duration: 1. 1. 2007 – 31. 12. 2009
SurveNIR
- Near Infrared Spectroscopy Tool for Collection Surveying
- Bližnja infrardeča spektroskopija za pregledovanje zbirk
See the Project website and the Cordis website.
Role in the project: Coordination
Funding: European Commission 6th Framework Programme (€1.2M)
Duration: 1. 8. 2005 – 31. 7. 2008
PaperTreat
- Evaluation of mass deacidification processes
- Presoja procesov masovnega razkislinjenja
See the Cordis website.
Role in the project: Partner
Funding: European Commission 6th Framework Programme (€1.4M)
Duration: 1. 8. 2005 – 31. 7. 2008
INKCOR
- Stabilisation of iron gall ink containing paper
- Stabilizacija papirja z železo-galnimi črnili
See the Cordis website.
Role in the project: Partner
Funding: European Commission 5th Framework Programme (€1.4M)
Duration: 1. 3. 2002 – 28. 2. 2005
Papylum
- Chemiluminescence – a novel tool in paper conservation studies (PAPYLUM)
- Kemiluminescenca – novo orodje za študij konserviranja papirja
See the Project website and Cordis website.
Role in the project: Coordination
Funding: European Commission 5th Framework Programme (€1M)
Duration: 1. 7. 2001 – 31. 1. 2005
Eurocare Laclepa
- Laser Cleaning Of Paper And Parchment
- Lasersko čiščenje papirja in pergamenta
See the Eureka website.
Role in the project: Partner
Funding: Eureka (€0.6M)
Duration: 1. 1. 1997 – 1. 1. 2002