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.

  • BArCH-Wood

    • 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

    BArCH-Wood

    • 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

  • N-DAD: Non-destructive Analysis and Diagnostics

    • 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: 1.4.2024 – 

    N-DAD: Non-destructive Analysis and Diagnostics

    • 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: 1.4.2024 – 

  • E-RIHS IP – European Research Infrastructure for Heritage Science – Implementation Phase

    • 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

    E-RIHS IP – European Research Infrastructure for Heritage Science – Implementation Phase

    • 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

  • ABC – Ancient Book Crafts

    • 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

    ABC – Ancient Book Crafts

    • 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

  • PVCare – Preventive Conservation Strategies for Poly(vinyl chloride) Objects

    • 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

    PVCare – Preventive Conservation Strategies for Poly(vinyl chloride) Objects

    • 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

  • UNCERTIR – Uncertainty of lifetime modelling based on quantitative IR spectroscopy

    • 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

    UNCERTIR – Uncertainty of lifetime modelling based on quantitative IR spectroscopy

    • 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

  • ISLAPAP – Understanding the Material Culture of Islamic Paper and Inks

    • 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

    ISLAPAP – Understanding the Material Culture of Islamic Paper and Inks

    • 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

  • Effects of lignin degradation on paper-based materials in extreme conditions

    • 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: Project Coordinator
    Funding: J4-3085 Slovenian Research Agency (€300k)

    Duration: 1. 10. 2021 – 30. 9. 2024

    Effects of lignin degradation on paper-based materials in extreme conditions

    • 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: Project Coordinator
    Funding: J4-3085 Slovenian Research Agency (€300k)

    Duration: 1. 10. 2021 – 30. 9. 2024

  • ODOTHEKA – Exploring and Archiving Heritage Smells

    • 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

    ODOTHEKA – Exploring and Archiving Heritage Smells

    • 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

  • SMACH – Climate Change and Cultural Heritage in the Western Balkans

    • Sustainable Management of Cultural Heritage in the Balkans in Response to Climate Change
    • Trajnostno upravljanje kulturne dediščine na Balkanu kot odziv na podnebne spremembe

    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

    SMACH – Climate Change and Cultural Heritage in the Western Balkans

    • Sustainable Management of Cultural Heritage in the Balkans in Response to Climate Change
    • Trajnostno upravljanje kulturne dediščine na Balkanu kot odziv na podnebne spremembe

    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