Raman Spectroscopy for Cultural Heritage

Includes a Live Web Event on 04/14/2026 at 1:00 PM (EDT)

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

Dr. Liora Mael (Moderator)

Postdoctoral Researcher

University of Delaware Department of Art Conservation

Dr. Liora Mael is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Art Conservation at the University of Delaware. She obtained a PhD from the University of California San Diego (Analytical Chemistry) where her research focused on the study of atmospheric processes and phase transitions with vibrational spectroscopy. At Winterthur she teaches the first-year material science and chemistry courses and investigates the impacts of air quality and wildfire smoke on indoor air and sustainability practices.

Tim Prusnick

Americas Business Manager, Spectroscopy Products Division

Renishaw

Tim Prusnick is the Americas Business Manager, Spectroscopy Products Division at Renishaw. Tim has over 30 years’ experience working with Raman spectroscopy instrumentation in industry and academia. He is a passionate and effective speaker with a strong background in all aspects of Raman Spectroscopy, including the fundamental science, applications, instrumentation, and custom product solutions.

Dr. Annette S. Ortiz Miranda (Moderator)

Conservation Scientist

The Walters Art Museum

Dr. Annette S. Ortiz Miranda is the conservation scientist at The Walters Art Museum, where she leads the museum’s scientific analysis laboratory. Prior to joining the Walters, she served as a postdoctoral researcher at Northwestern University’s Center for Scientific Studies in the Arts in Chicago and as a conservation scientist at the National Gallery of Denmark (SMK). Her research focuses on the identification and characterization of artists’ materials and techniques, as well as the study of their degradation processes. In addition to her role at the Walters, Dr. Ortiz Miranda actively contributes to the field through multiple leadership roles. She serves on the Board of Governors of the Centro de Conservación y Restauración de Puerto Rico (CENCOR), is the 2026 Program Chair of the Research and Technical Studies (RaTS) group of the American Institute for Conservation (AIC), and is part of the leadership of the Art, Archaeology & Conservation Science group within the American Ceramic Society (ACerS).

Aniko Bezur

Wallace S. Wilson Director of Scientific Research

Yale Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage

Anikó Bezur, the Wallace S. Wilson Director of Scientific Research at the Yale Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage, has over 17 years of experience with the application of x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy to the study of cultural heritage objects. She was assistant professor in conservation science at the Art Conservation Department, Buffalo State College and adjunct professor in the Chemistry Department at Rice University. Anikó was involved in the conceptualization, organization and teaching of the XRF Boot Camp since its inception in 2011.