The Science Behind the Scenes at the Museum
Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th November - a weekend of events, talks and films celebrating how conservation works in the National Museum of Ireland.
Every object that ends up in the Museum has had a journey before it got here - but whether it was dug up from a bog, rescued from an attic, discovered on the bed of a lake or bought at auction - before any object goes on public display at the Museum, it must be assessed by a Museum conservator.
We’ve invited our conservators to come out from behind the scenes - come and meet them to hear some of their fascinating stories about the conservation of objects as varied as the Asgard yacht, a medieval book shrine, a Bronze Age food vessel, a Mesolithic fish trap and an Indian curved sword.
Saturday 17th November 2012: Talks and Screenings
Please note that admission is free and no booking – places will be limited and allocated on a first-come basis.
10.30am - Welcome
Rolly Read, Head of Conservation, National Museum of Ireland
10.40am - Asgard : Nail Sickness - an ancient scourge in a new light
John Kearon, Project Manager and Lead Conservator, Asgard Conservation Project
Venue: Asgard Exhibition
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11.30am - The Conservation of the Lough Kinale Book Shrine
Dr Paul Mullarkey, Assistant Keeper, Conservation Department, National Museum of Ireland
12.00pm - Clowanstown fish traps – a short trawl through the conservation treatment of Mesolithic basketry
Kasia Bernaciak, Archaeological Conservator
12.15pm - The laser cleaning of a Bronze Age Food Vessel
Lorna Barnes, Glass, Ceramic and Stone conservator, National Museum of Ireland
12.30pm - “Two tubs of elbow grease please…” Mechanical Cleaning of Applied Arts Objects
Hannah Power, Applied Arts Conservator, National Museum of Ireland
12.45pm - Question and Answer session
1.00pm - Launch and screening of new short film - Behind the Scenes: A Tour of the Conservation Studios
Venue: AV Lecture Theatre
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FILM SCREENINGS
2.15pm - Behind the Scenes: A Tour of the Conservation Studios
A short film about the public tour of the conservation studios, introducing the Museum conservators and their work.
2.30pm - Treasure from the Bog
A documentary about The Faddan More Psalter, a unique archaeological find from County Tipperary which revealed potential links between Irish Christianity and the Coptic Church of the Middle East.
3.30pm - Bog Bodies
The bodies of ‘Old Croghan Man’ and ‘Clonycavan Man’ were preserved for 2,300 years in an Irish peat bog and discovered within weeks of one another.
During investigation and conservation at the National Museum, evidence revealed much about their diet, social status and even hairstyle.
Venue: AV Lecture Theatre
Sunday 18th November 2012: Film Screenings and Family Events
FILM SCREENINGS
2.15pm - Behind the Scenes: A Tour of the Conservation Studios
2.30pm - Treasure from the Bog
3.30pm - Bog Bodies
Venue: AV Theatre. See film details in Saturday programme.
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PERFORMANCE IN PALATINE ROOM
3.00pm - Seanchaí bringing Science to Kids
Storytellers and scientists bring the enchantment of scientific discovery to children in a lively and well-grounded show. The performance is followed by interactive experiments linked to the story. With University College Cork and Dublin's Story-O group.
Admission free but advance booking essential. Suitable for 7 – 11 yrs accompanied by adult/s.
Venue: Meet at Main Reception. To book a place contact the booking office
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4.00pm - Saving History Family Trail
Explore the Museum finding out about how conservation works in the exhibitions, keeping objects safe from too much light, heat, moisture and even bugs!
Venue: Meet at Main Reception. Booking essential. To book a place contact the bookings office.
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Organised by the Education and Outreach Department in conjunction with the Conservation Department.
Supported by Dublin City of Science 2012.
Download a printer-friendly version of the programme:
Science Behind the Scenes programme ScienceBehindScenes programme.pdf (0.38 MB, Adobe PDF)