Introduction to Heritage Science and the RICHeS programme: Exeter

The Collection Care teams at The National Archives and Department of Archaeology & History at University of Exeter are pleased to invite archive, library, and related professionals in the Southwest to an inperson workshop introducing the Research Infrastructure for Conservation and Heritage Science (RICHeS).

Heritage science is the application of scientific methods, such as imaging, materials analysis, and environmental monitoring, to better understand, preserve, and provide access to cultural heritage objects, including archival and library collections.

Participants will hear from The National Archives’ heritage science team, University of Exeter’s SHArD 3D Digital Imaging Lab, and members of the RICHeS team.

What will the workshop cover

• An introduction to heritage science and its relevance to archives and libraries

• An overview of RICHeS and how to access its facilities and resources

• Case studies demonstrating how heritage science can support collection care, interpretation, and access

• Opportunities for discussion, questions, and professional networking over tea and coffee

Who should attend?

• Professionals working in archives and libraries

• Conservators working with archive and library collections

• Postgraduate students and researchers interested in the materiality and history of documentary heritage

• Other professionals with an interest in collection care, access, and research

Why should you attend?

Archives and Libraries professionals increasingly face questions that benefit from scientific insight. These questions include, though are not limited to:

• What causes deterioration, and how can we slow it?

• How can we make informed decisions about storage, handling, and conservation?

• What do materials and inks reveal about how documents were produced and used?

These workshops will show how heritage science, through the RICHeS network, can offer practical, accessible tools and expertise to support daytoday archival work, longterm preservation planning, and improved understanding of collections.

What is RICHeS?

The Research Infrastructure for Conservation and Heritage Science (RICHeS) is a major UK-wide programme funded by the UKRI Arts and Humanities Research Council.

RICHeS supports a national network of facilities, research collections, expertise, and a heritage science data platform. Its aim is to make heritage science more accessible to the wider sector, enabling organisations of all sizes to ask new questions of their collections and make better-informed decisions about care, conservation, and access.

There are currently 31 RICHeS projects distributed across the UK, working together to support archives, libraries, museums, galleries, and academic organisations.

The Written Heritage Science Laboratory at The National Archives

The National Archives is one of 17 RICHeS facilities partners across the UK and hosts the Written Heritage Science Laboratory (WHSL). The laboratory focuses on the scientific study of archival and library materials such as paper, parchment, photographs, and book bindings.

In practical terms, this work helps to:

• Improve understanding of how collection materials were made and used

• Support conservation decision-making, particularly for complex or vulnerable items

• Enable safer and more meaningful access to collections

As part of the RICHeS network, The National Archives contributes expertise, training, and knowledge-sharing to support the wider archive and library community.