The Journal of the American Institute for Conservation (JAIC) seeks submissions for a special issue on the topic of “Practical Approaches to Technical Research.” Conservators work in diverse environments equipped with wide-ranging research capabilities. For those working with limited time, resources, and equipment, answering technical research questions can be uniquely challenging. However, the proliferation of low-cost, accessible materials investigation tools, and the ability to share analytical resources through cross-disciplinary collaboration have made it possible for conservators to meet the demand for evidence-based research in a range of cultural heritage settings. These include not only museums but smaller collecting institutions, private practices, and historic sites.
Articles types sought include research articles, short communications, technical notes (similar to expanded tips), literature reviews, and ethical considerations.
Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Technical research by conservators and scientists in remote settings, including historic and archaeological sites.
- Technical research by conservators in private practice.
- Novel applications of non-instrumental analytical techniques (such as wet chemical tests) to technical research projects.
- Technical imaging approaches using modified cameras and other innovative, low-tech setups.
- Case study collaborations between conservation laboratories with limited scientific research capacity and scientists outside their institution.
Authors are invited to submit an abstract (maximum 400 words) and article outline to the special issue organizer by June 30, 2021. Articles selected by the guest organizer will be due January 31, 2022, and should be submitted through our online portal at www.editorialmanager.com/
JAIC guidelines and style guide are found at www.culturalheritage.org/
You may send inquiries about the issue to Julio M. del Hoyo-Meléndez, JAIC
Send abstracts to special issue guest organizer by June 30, 2021:
Caroline Roberts at cirobert@umich.edu
Conservator, Kelsey Museum of Archaeology
University of Michigan
Deadline to send abstracts: June 30, 2021