Project News

Japan International Cooperation Agency ( JICA ) conducted a training course on Environmental Science in Museum from 6th June to 13th June, 2012 at the Grand Egyptian Museum-Conservation Center( GEM-CC ).

It is necessary to study how fast things in the museum change and what causes these changes, and to erect a framework of preventive conservation in museum environment standard. In the course, participants have learned the importance of environmental factors, technology of monitoring, analyzing and managing these factors, ways to resolve problems, to prevent deterioration factors and to improve situation and facilities and devices to be installed to establish suitable environmental condition to preserve cultural heritage.

Eighteen trainees among conservators, curators, engineers and scientists in GEM-CC have participated in the training course.

Prof. Yasunori Matsuda, JICA expert in Conservation and Technical Chief Advisor of the Project, Mr. Vinod Daniel, the CEO of IndHeritage Pty Ltd., the former Director of Conservation, Australian Museum and Dr. Robert Child, the former Head of Conservation, National Museum of Wales, UK have contributed to the course as instructors. All of them have long experience having worked in museum with knowledge and skills in preventive conservation.

The seven days training course was conducted in a way that trainees could obtain necessary knowledge about environmental science in museum and can practice what they needed to achieve. Instructors made lectures and practices, participants performed presentation and there was discussion between those and they were the major components of the training course. This training contributed greatly not only to improve the environmental conditions itself but also to strengthen the cooperation among conservators, scientists, curators and engineers in GEM-CC.

Lectures

• Preventive Conservation in Museum
• Managing museum environment and related environmental science
• Risk assessment and management in museum environment
• Environmental factors by HVAC system

Practice

• Measuring Methods
  • 1. Dust Monitor
  • 2. Air Sampling for Gas
  • 3. Radiation( VIS/UV)
  • 4. T/RH by Asman thermo-hygrometer
  • 5. Analytical method of T/RH data
• Surveying HVAC system, dust plumbing rout, exaust/intake port, controlling room and Air Handling Unit (AHU)
• Measures for preventing from pests and disasters
• Risk Assessment/Management
• Making proposal for improvement of environmental factors in GEM-CC and for Creation of suitable environment in new museum

Discussion

• Impacts of radiation, contaminants, pests and disasters on artifacts and Preventing measures
• Impacts on incorrect T/RH on artifacts and preventing measures
• Issues and improvement of HVAC in GEM-CC building
• Environmental standard for GEM-CC

Presentation

• Results of the preliminary work, Environmental Research Project in GEM-CC
• Activity and issues of HVAC in GEM-CC building
• Activity and Issues of IPM in GEM-CC

The trainees felt the importance of this training course for their work and how it could help them to preserve the precious artifacts which they are dealing with in a good environment. The cooperation among the participants themselves and among the instructors were excellent and it was one of the important things that helped this course to success.

One of the IPM (Integrated Pest Management) Team Making a presentation about insects

Prof. Matsuda demonstrated to use HOBO Data Logger, Kitagawa Indicator, PH strips and Dust Monitor