Course Leaders: Dr. Bill Wei and Lisa Giombini

Codes of ethics play a critical role in the conservation and restoration of works of art and objects of cultural heritage. As with codes of ethics in other professional fields such as medicine, journalism or civil engineering, these conservation and restoration codes have been developed by the profession itself to show their clients and other stakeholders that they conduct themselves and their work in what could be generally termed a highly professional manner.

These codes of ethics as well as others written primarily by Western conservation associations make use of terms such ‘appropriate’, ‘authenticity, ‘highest possible standards’, ‘integrity, ‘respect’ and ‘value’, just to name a few. These terms are not well-defined in the codes and can be considered to be vague. However, modern interpretations of codes of ethics have become quite strict, and are being coupled with movements to professionalize the field through the development of certification standards. There is therefore increasing heated discussion and debate about the interpretation and role of codes of ethics in conservation and restoration, and taking that a step further, what makes a highly professional conservator. 

It is at times like these when it is useful to step back and look at what it is that one is debating. Many of the aforementioned terms and others in conservation codes of ethics are actually subjects of study and debate in philosophy. It goes without saying that ‘ethics’ itself is one of the main pillars upon which the entire world of philosophy rests. But why do we call our standards for professional behavior in conservation a code of ‘ethics’? What does it mean to be ethical in the conservation and restoration of objects of cultural heritage?

AIC is thus organizing a workshop on philosophy and conservation codes of ethics. This is the second in the series, and you need not have attended a previous session to join this one. It will consist of an introductory lecture on what the different meanings of those terms have in philosophical debates, both in a theoretical and in an applied sense. This will then be followed by a so-called Socratic dialogue for all participants to investigate what that concept means in conservation practice. We will look at five important terms used in codes of ethics from organizations such as the American Institute for Conservation (AIC), the European Confederation of Conservator-Restorers’ Organization (ECCO) or The Institute of Conservation (ICON) including ethics, respect, integrity, and highest possible standards. This will be the first in the series meant for members with at least a few years of work experience.

Audience and Registration

Registration is open to AIC members with at least a few years of work experience in the conservation field, be it active conservation or related fields such as preventive conservation or conservation science. Registration for this workshop is free, but limited to 48 people. All of the workshops will be conducted on-line using a platform known as Moodle. To allow time to Moodle set-up, registration will close at midnight ET on Thursday, September 17th.

If you are a student or emerging professional, please consider registering for the upcoming student Socratic dialogue event. 

About this Workshop Series

This is the first in a series of five workshops over a two-year period where we, AIC members, can consider a number of important conservation and conservation ethic concepts with which we work. Depending on the format of the Socratic dialogue, each workshop will last between three and a half and four hours.

This workshop requires an application to participate and only selected applicants should register! Applications are now being accepted on a rolling basis. Please go to the Apply to Participate tab and submit an application if you are interested in participating.

July 27-31, 2026, SUNY Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
Instructors: Kirsten Moffitt, Aaron Shugar

This workshop will provide participants with an intensive hands-on re-introduction to the theory and practice of Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM), focusing on historic pigments found in heritage objects. PLM is an important tool for the study of cultural heritage objects, but its effective use is dependent on the skill and experience of the user. During this workshop, attendees will be reacquainted with the polarizing light microscope and refresh their microscopy knowledge and skills through lectures and hands-on exercises to recognize key optical and morphological properties of pigments, such as relative refractive index, pleochroism, and anisotropy. Participants will move beyond pigment references and work through unknowns collected from actual artifacts to reflect ‘real world’ applications encountered in conservation practice. Participants will collect samples from heritage objects, prepare those samples for microscopic examination, identify unknowns, and learn how best to document their results. Case-study lectures will explore actual projects in which PLM played a pivotal role. The limitations of PLM and the application of supplementary analytical techniques will also be discussed.

Participants will receive a small slide reference set for use during class, printed and digital reference materials, as well as a packet of self-teaching worksheets designed for future use. During the workshop, attendees will have the opportunity to prepare a pigment reference set to take home. This workshop is designed to be a safe space for conservation professionals to refresh their microscopy skills, re-train their eye, and better articulate their findings. Participants will come away with a refreshed understanding of PLM, its relevance to the study of art materials, and the confidence to apply this critical technique to their own work.

Interested individuals must apply. The registration fee is $760 for AIC members, $912 for non-members. Free registration and a $1,000 travel stipend will be provided to a limited number of participants upon request in their application.

Funding for this program comes from a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation (FAIC) Endowment for Professional Development, which was created by a grant from the Mellon Foundation and is supported by donations from members of the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) and its friends. Workshops are made possible with the assistance of many AIC members, but no AIC membership dues were used to create or present this workshop.

Additional funding was provided by the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT).

Interested individuals must complete an application. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis based on space. Each applicant will be asked to describe their experience with objects containing historic pigments and how they would use and share the knowledge gained from this workshop.

Submit an application by clicking the "Apply" button below. Applications are submitted through our online application portal. When you enter the portal, you will be prompted to login to the system using a login ID and password. Please note that this system is not connected to your F/AIC profile on our general website.

Criteria for Review

• Experience and current interactions with the topic
• Need for the content (current challenges around the topic)
• Plan for dissemination of information gained
• The program seeks to support a diverse set of participants and will consider geographic location, place of employment type, and profession.

APPLY

Museums, libraries, and archives have been boxing collections since time immemorial. Offering protection from airborne pollutants and mishandling, boxes have also served as buffers, reducing fluctuations of relative humidity in the storage microenvironment. 

At the same time, efforts to maintain and inspire access have often been at odds with the closed box concept. Our two speakers, Angie Yvarra at the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford, and Stephanie Gowler at Northwestern University Libraries, have been exploring solutions to this conundrum in very creative ways. In select situations, they have also included environmental data gathering in their design processes. Each will present their work for about 20 minutes, and we will take questions at the end.  

Organized by the AIC Sustainability Committee, this webinar is the 11th in a series of Conversations with Change Makers, where we address energy use and the environmental impact of the buildings in which cultural heritage is stored, exhibited, and studied.

Watch the recorded orientation session for both current and prospective volunteers.  

In this session, we will:

• Orient you to our leadership and organizational structure
• Provide you with resources to be effective in your role
• Share how our groups work together
• Offer overviews of timelines, budgeting, events, funding, and planning
• Explain our communications tools and documentation rules

Please share any questions with Bonnie Naugle at bnaugle@culturalheritage.org. 

Our Monthly Member Meetup is a series of hour-long monthly events that we’ll host second Fridays at 2pm ET. Topics may cover sustainability, private practice, volunteering, the wiki, emergency planning, introductions to our various committees and groups, and more. Our goal is to offer you a social outlet and way to connect with other members. We welcome suggestions for topics and guest hosts! Send us your ideas at membership@culturalheritage.org. 

Review our past meetups:

• 2025 Member Meetup Series
• 2024 Member Meetup Series
• 2023 Member Meetup Series 
• 2022 Member Meetup Series.

Sign up once to have access to all the specialty group business meetings and the AIC Business Meeting recording. No reminders will be sent, so please navigate to each meeting you plan to attend and download the calendar reminder. You can do this by clicking the yellow button with "Add to Calendar" text, then import to your calendar program of choice.

Recordings of meetings are posted within a day or so of the event.

The third and final webinar in our Vibrational Spectroscopy series will introduce Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy as a cornerstone technique in conservation science, offering rapid, non-destructive molecular identification across a wide range of materials. Designed for students, researchers, conservators, and allied professionals, this session builds a strong conceptual foundation while highlighting practical considerations and real-world case studies from both portable and benchtop instruments.

You’ll learn:

• How FTIR spectroscopy works and what information it provides about molecular vibrations and functional groups
• Key differences between portable and benchtop FTIR systems—and when each is most effective
• The strengths and limitations of major FTIR sampling modes, including ATR, specular reflection, diffuse reflection, transmission, and micro‑FTIR
• How FTIR supports qualitative and (semi-)quantitative analysis in cultural heritage research
• Practical guidance on sample preparation, from ATR contact considerations to transmission pellets and micro-sampling
• Innovative case studies demonstrating FTIR’s capabilities in both field and laboratory settings

The webinar will include an extended Q&A, offering participants the opportunity to ask questions tailored to their research materials, instrumentation, or analytical needs.

This is the last in a series of three lectures leading up to the Infrared and Raman User’s Group (IRUG) conference at the Winterthur Museum, October 6-9th 2026. The recordings of all three webinars will be available to registered participants through the AIC learning platform.

The second webinar of our Vibrational Spectroscopy series will explore Raman spectroscopy as an essential tool in conservation science, providing specific molecular information through a non-destructive analytical approach. Designed for students, researchers, conservators, and allied professionals, the session will build a foundational understanding while highlighting real-world examples and challenges.

You’ll learn:

• Foundations of Raman spectroscopy
• Considerations about instrumentation and materials when designing an experiments
• Limitations and strengths of Raman including how fluorescence impacts Raman analysis—and strategies to work around it
• Qualitative and (semi-)quantitative uses of Raman in cultural heritage research
• Practical considerations for sample prep, including when and how Raman is used on cross-sections
• Real-world case studies demonstrating the technique’s capabilities and limitations

The webinar will include an extended Q&A, offering participants the opportunity to ask questions tailored to their research materials, instrumentation, or analytical needs. It is free for any student, regardless of AIC membership status.

This is the second in a series of three webinars leading up to the Infrared and Raman User’s Group (IRUG) conference at the Winterthur Museum, October 6-9th 2026. All sessions will be recorded and available to registered participants through the AIC learning platform.

Tuesday, March 24, 1:00–2:30 pm ET: Introduction to Vibrational Spectroscopy

Tuesday, April 14, 1:00–2:30 pm ET: Raman spectroscopy

Thursday, May 14, 1:00–2:30 pm ET: FTIR spectroscopy 

The Laser Discussion Group (LDG) is AIC’s newest discussion group and was established under the auspices of the Research and Technical Studies Group. The goal of the group is to advance the use of laser technologies in art and heritage conservation and facilitate communication and collaboration between communities that utilize lasers in conservation interventions or treatments. This initiative seeks to expand American engagement within the established international community and to serve as a resource for professionals interested in incorporating laser technologies into conservation practices. 

Join this virtual session to hear LDG officers share the group’s vision and offer an introduction to the two laser types most commonly used in conservation: Nd:YAG and Er:YAG. For decades, neodymium-doped yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd-YAG) lasers have been used in conservation particularly for removing dark crusts from stone sculpture and architectural facades. Erbium-doped yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er-YAG) lasers can be used to thin/remove aged natural varnishes, biological growth, and adhesives by beneficially producing thermally-induced photo-disruption at the surfaces of media that contain O-H bonds. Both laser classes and their associated wavelengths can work well in tandem with other traditional cleaning techniques. Select examples will be briefly presented. 

The LDG is pleased to announce a dedicated session at the 2026 AIC Annual Meeting in Montreal, focusing on the application of lasers across a range of material substrates (here). We hope to arrange an informal meetup after the session so stay tuned for more details. Keep an eye out for future LDG programming announcements. 

Speakers: 

• Adam Jenkins, Laser Discussion Group Co-Chair, adam@ajcsllc.com 
• Holly Salmon, Laser Discussion Group Co-Chair, hsalmon@isgm.org 
• Eve Mayberger, Laser Discussion Group Vice Chair, emayberger@gmail.com
• Colleen Snyder, Laser Discussion Group Secretary, cesnyder@gmail.com

Join us for a discussion with Marcus Knight of BeGreenAI. This session offers conservation professionals a clear, grounded introduction to how AI systems actually work, before examining the environmental implications of their growing use. From there, it moves into practical guidance on using AI tools more mindfully, with attention to energy use, ethical trade-offs, and long-term impact. Rather than advocating adoption or rejection of AI tech, the focus is on informed decision-making and applying the same principles of care, precaution, and stewardship that underpin conservation practice.

A recording will be available on-demand after the event.