2006 Graduation: CCMC Masters students
On Wednesday March 14th 2007, the Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation hosted a celebration for the cohort of 2006 Masters graduates. Professor Carl Schiesser, Director of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Free Radical Chemistry and Biotechnology, gave an address to the graduates and guests - presented below are some highlights from this address.
"Late last year we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation - to engage in activities that will help us understand and combat free-radical damage to works of art.
It is hard to imagine that only a year ago the first Masters by Coursework students graduated from the CCMC. How many of you have taken what you have done for granted - taken the existence of your Centre for granted?
But it has not come without hard work and dedication from Centre staff and the Director, Robyn Sloggett whose dynamic leadership, drive for culture change, and whose vision to train conservators for Australia, South East Asia and the Pacific region led to the establishment of the CCMC and ultimately for the programme that you have just completed.
Associate Professor Robyn Sloggett
and Professor Carl Schiesser
"Science is important to art conservation. Raman spectroscopy to examine selected Korans, Electronic Speckle Pattern Interferommetry to examine the composition of materials, and in the near future - the use of techniques common to free-radical researchers to better understand and protect against the oxidative stress caused by free-radicals in the environment that works of art are housed.
And art is important to science through enhancing and enriching the society in which we all live. We all have a lot to gain by working together.
"Apart from talented staff and students and operating a nationally significant commercial conservation service, collaboration is a key ingredient to the growth and success of the CCMC - with ties to the Getty Conservation Institute, physics, chemistry, earth science and now, the ARC Centre for Free Radical Chemistry and Biotechnology.
Your future prospects are bright. Graduates have found positions in the Australian War Memorial, NGV, State Library of Victoria, National Archives, Artlab Australia, International Conservation Services, Te Papa in Wellington."