Heritage for the Future / Science for Heritage: A European Adventure for Research and Innovation

Under the French presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Foundation for Heritage Science will organise, with the European Commission and in partnership with the French Ministry of Culture and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the universities of Paris-Saclay and Cergy Paris, a symposium dedicated to heritage science in Europe. It will be held on 15 and 16 March 2022, in Paris at the Louvre and the National Library of France.

Heritage science is the wide and transdisciplinary scientific field that deals with the study of cultural heritage. Bringing together the human, social, fundamental, digital, and engineering sciences, it contributes to the identification, understanding, preservation, restoration, and transmission of cultural heritage, be it tangible, intangible, natural or digital.

Today, the concept of heritage science is gradually being established in the European academic and scientific ecosystem. It has been the object of an increasingly ambitious structuring process that includes researchers, heritage professionals, non-governmental organisations and associations wishing to transcend national visions and interests.

The aim of the symposium is to highlight the diversity of heritage science, in France and in Europe, and to show how it contributes to safeguarding heritage and unveiling its central role to understand and face major contemporary challenges (social, cultural, economic, political, and climatic). Its articulation with the main European initiatives will also be at the core of this event: how can heritage science support the implementation of European climate and environmental ambitions? How to stimulate collaborations with the cultural and creative industries? What changes and issues arise from digital transitions? What are the challenges for the organisations that train researchers and professionals of today and tomorrow?

This event will be the opportunity to showcase during two days some of the most innovative results of research and innovation, their application on the ground but also to discuss the future prospects. The programme builds on four main themes:

A reflective heritage for a resilient society
Sustainable management of cultural heritage
Cultural heritage in a changing context
Cultural heritage facing climate and environmental change

The symposium will be held in French and in English in the form of plenary presentation sessions and round tables, which will be accessible online. A social event will also take place on the evening of 15 March to allow participants to share a convivial moment. This event is part of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2022.

Frank McGovern, the Chair of JPI Climate and Katherine Warren, Vice-Chair of JPI Cultural Heritage will launch the White paper in the first plenary session “Preserving and mobilising cultural heritage in the face of climate change: the role of research and innovation in an emergency context” on Tuesday morning.

Website: https://events.wisembly.com/heritage4future

To read or download the press release, please consult here.