Alongside specialist conservation practice, students in the final year of BA (Hons) Conservation undertake a conservation research project based on an area of conservation practice they have identified during their practical work.
Students prepare a thesis illustrating their research methodology, experimental data and conclusions. Their research findings are presented at the Conservation Symposium, a public-facing annual event to which professionals and interested parties from the world of Conservation are invited.
Conservation Symposium 2026
Tuesday 14 April 10:00 – 15:00
Imperial College London, LT 164 in the Skempton Building, College Road, London SW7 2AZ
PROGRAMME
10:10am | Hau Chi Chu Tuffy
An Investigation of the Effects of Adhesive Application and Textile Orientation on the Mechanical Properties of Aerolinen in Book Conservation
10.30am | Wai Ying Chu Kathy
A Comparative Study of the Material Behaviour of Composition Ornament and Selected Alternative Materials in Conservation Practice
10.50am | Ho Ching Chiu Wallace
Q-switched Nd:YAG laser cleaning of parchment: a study of damage thresholds across different types of recently manufactured parchment
11:10am | Ricardo De La Espriella
Evaluation of Dragonfly’s liquid formulation Aerogel as a hydrophobic treatment for heritage stone
11:30am – Tea break
11.40am | Charlotte Greenbank
Pith Perfect: Finding Harmony in Methylcellulose Repairs. Does the concentration of Methylcellulose affect the efficacy of remoistenable tissue repairs on pith ‘paper’ under fluctuating relative humidity?
12 noon | Julia Sanchez Garcia
Practical and mechanical evaluation of a range of fibre-reinforced epoxy putties for use in conservation support systems
2.20pm | Jean Brooks
Toying with Bellows!
Investigating the Strength, Flexibility, and Airtightness of Papers Used in the Construction and Repair of Bellows in Toy Musical Instruments
12.40 | Soyeon Yun
The formation of Microenvironment in Three-sided Heat-Sealed Polyester Enclosures and Their Effects on Paper under Accelerated Ageing Conditions
1pm – 2pm – Lunch break
2pm | Sophie Nicholas
The use of Jesmonite for the replication of gilt bronze mounts
2.20pm | Kinvara Tims
Laser Cleaning in the Treatment of Parchment: An investigation into the use of historic and artificially aged samples
2.40pm | Magdalena Wohlgenannt Zazie
A Five-Year Reassessment of Rabbit Skin Glue Quality: Comparative Testing of Commercial Brands, Homemade RSG and Long Term Aging
3:00pm | Ambrose Hossack
Pot to Production – A comparison of Hide glues
3:20pm | Amanda Lancaster (MA)
Konnyaku (Amorphophallus konjac) as a Conservation Paper Sizing Material: Comparative Mechanical, Chemical, Optical and Ageing Behaviour in Western and Japanese Papers
4pm | End of presentations
Our Conservation Symposium 2026 is held in partnership with the Imperial Science and Engineering Research Group for Cultural Heritage and the Imperial Centre for Languages, Culture and Communication.