Achievement

IGERT-TEECH Trainee Samantha Stout seeks to bridge the first grand challenge of materials and structural characterization of cultural heritage (CH) objects, with the second grand challenge of understanding material degradation and aging. The corresponding methodology, incorporating analytical techniques in materials science with complementary imaging diagnostics, is initiating a transformation in the study of cultural heritage science. This research is aimed at producing a model practice for the analysis of cultural heritage artifacts that will connect comprehensive state of health assessment with the identification of causes of decay, and establish the cause and effect relationship necessary to direct the conservation of the artifact.