Project News

A training course on the third Integrated Pest Management (IPM) was held in Egypt for 4 days (20-23 November, 2011) for the conservators and scientists in GEM-CC. Three instructors in IPM came from Japan to attend the course.

The three experts are Dr. Sadatoshi Miura, the Chairman of the board directors from Research Foundation for Insect Damage of Cultural Prosperities, Dr. Kosuke Takatori, the Chairman of the board directors from NPO Center for Fungal Consultation and Mr.Kazushi Kawagoe, the Advisor from Ikari Shodoku Corporation Co. Ltd.

The participants are taking samples from the cotton and cloth under the mummy and then check if there are any fungi or not in the Microbiology lab.

The course included both theoretical and practical training. It consists of two days for lectures and two days for the scientific practice in two labs, Heavy artifacts lab and Microbiology lab. In the practical session, the trainees had learnt how to set up carbon dioxide insecticidal treatment apparatus in the microbiology lab. The instructions were given about techniques to identify fungi and bacteria and to test anti-fungi and anti-bacteria.

One of the participants asking questions during the session

The participants were so enthusiastic to learn and to deepen what they had learnt previously in Egypt and Japan. Also, the staff of GEM-CC were encouraged to put into practice what they had learnt during the course starting from the simple thing such as to closing the door after they entered, in order not to let the insects get in. For IPM, it is important to be careful about daily operation. The instructors were proud of the participants as they were so co-operative.

This training course aimed to let the Egyptian conservators and scientists in GEM-CC be innovative for conserving artifacts without using harmful chemicals to a human body and environment.