Ten new Science and Heritage research awards that are aimed at helping to preserve the cultural fabric of the UK have been announced today, worth £600,000 in total.

The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) today announced ten new collaborative doctoral awards as part of its strategic Science and Heritage programme. These awards will allow ten PhD researchers to study with major UK universities and cultural institutions to push the boundaries of our understanding of historic materials.

The non-academic organisations involved in these awards include leading UK cultural institutions such as The British Museum, English Heritage, The National Archives and York Minster.

Topics to be investigated as part of these research projects include:

• the lifetime of colour photographs;
• assessing the vulnerabilty of rock art monuments;
• preparing UK historic monuments for climate change;
• conserving historic concrete structures;
• structural analysis and conservation on display of large historic tapestries;
• in-situ preservation of wetland heritage;
• applying x-ray techniques to cathedral conservation.

These are the first awards to be made by the Science and Heritage Programme, which aims to provide a locus for those wishing to engage with science and heritage, to build knowledge through research and capacity by training young researchers and to disseminate knowledge widely so that our cultural heritage is in better shape to confront the challenges of the 21st century.

Read more at: www.heritagescience.ac.uk.

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Media Contact: Jake Gilmore, Communications Manager, j.gilmore@ahrc.ac.uk. Tel: 0797 099 4586

Editors Notes

Details of the ten joint AHRC/EPSRC Collaborative Research Studentships made as part of the joint Science and Heritage research programme:

These awards will offer doctoral students the chance to conduct their research in collaboration with a non-academic body, and to gain experience of work outside the academic sphere.

Professor Chris Carr at University of Manchester with Historic Royal Palaces
Investigation into Structural Analysis and Associated Conservation Support Strategy in the Display of Large Historic Tapestries and Textiles

Professor Chris Carr at University of Manchester with the British Museum
Interventive conservation of black-dyed organic materials-the problem of metal -polyphenol complexes

Dr Alison Hulme at University of Edinburgh with National Museums of Scotland
Historic Dye Analysis: Method Development and New Applications in Cultural Heritage

Dr Matija Strlic at University College London with The National Archives
Lifetime of colour photographs in mixed archival collections

Professor Christopher Hall at University of Edinburgh with National Museums of Scotland
Deterioration and conservation of historic concrete structures: the National Museum of Flight military airfield at East Fortune

Dr Andrew Wilson at University of Bradford with National Museums Liverpool
Sustainable radiography for cultural materials in the 21st century:optimising filmless capture techniques

Professor Peter Brimblecombe at University of East Anglia with English Heritage
Preparing historic collections for climate change

Dr Karen Wilson at University of York with York Minster
Weathering and decay in historical magnesian limestone: application of x-ray techniques to inform cathedral conservation in the 21st century

Martin Bell at University of Reading with English Heritage
In situ preservation of wetland heritage: hydrological and chemical change in the burial environment of the Somerset Levels, UK

Haida Liang at Nottingham Trent University with English Heritage
Non-invasive methods for in situ assessing and monitoring the vulnerability of rock art monuments

Arts & Humanities Research Council: Each year the AHRC provides approximately £100 million from the Government to support research and postgraduate study in the arts and humanities, from archaeology and English literature to design and dance. In any one year, the AHRC makes approximately 700 research awards and around 1,000 postgraduate awards. Awards are made after a rigorous peer review process, to ensure that only applications of the highest quality are funded. Arts and humanities researchers constitute nearly a quarter of all research-active staff in the higher education sector. The quality and range of research supported by this investment of public funds not only provides social and cultural benefits but also contributes to the economic success of the UK.

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC): is the UK's main agency for funding research in engineering and the physical sciences. The EPSRC invests around £740 million a year in research and postgraduate training, to help the nation handle the next generation of technological change. The areas covered range from information technology to structural engineering, and mathematics to materials science. This research forms the basis for future economic development in the UK and improvements for everyone’s health, lifestyle and culture. EPSRC also actively promotes public awareness of science and engineering. EPSRC works alongside other Research Councils with responsibility for other areas of research. The Research Councils work collectively on issues of common concern via Research Councils UK. More at www.epsrc.ac.uk

UK Science & Heritage Research Programme: The Arts and Humanities Research Council and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council are managing this research programme that will run, initially, for five years. The programme is led by Programme Director, Professor May Cassar. Professor Cassar leads on the programmes development, external coordination and outreach as well as on extensive networking with the national and international research community including non-academic sectors. In addition she is also establishing the base line level of funding across all the research councils and developing a comprehensive map of recent and current research and training activity in heritage science. www.hertiagescience.ac.uk