Overview

Science projects are chosen and designed to address pressing and recognized needs within the conservation profession that align with the Getty Conservation Institute’s strategic plan and priorities, while drawing on the broad range of expertise that exists within the department. 

Scientists at the Conservation Institute undertake fundamental and applied research projects, using a wide variety of analytical techniques, to provide essential information to conservators and other professionals in the field. These projects address questions about the condition of individual works of art, the ways in which broad classes of materials perform or degrade with age, the ways cultural heritage may be affected by its environment or by previous conservation treatments, and the development and testing of improved, more sustainable methods for advancing conservation practice.

Our scientists work in close collaboration with national and international partners to maximize available expertise, to allow access to a broader range of analytical techniques and methodologies, to study particular works of art or sites, and to ensure our research stays focused and relevant to the field. We frequently host research partners in the Conservation Institute’s science laboratories, to maximize the use of our instrumentation and to enable more effective communication with our staff.

Results from our projects are widely disseminated, targeting both the conservation community and the scientific profession. While our primary audience is the conservation field, it is important that the Conservation Institute contribute to the ongoing development of heritage science as a discipline, as well as engaging in the broader needs of science education in schools and colleges.

We aim to strike a balance in our dissemination methods, to include peer-reviewed academic papers, presentations at key conferences and seminars, books and project reports, symposia, and development of professional workshops.

Our published material is freely accessed on the Getty website, in addition to a growing number of instructional videos and roundtable discussions that can be accessed on the Conservation Institute's YouTube channel.