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Project Descriptions

PIRE: Computationally-Based Imaging of Structure in Materials (CuBISM)

July 26, 2020 | Public Programs, Exhibitions

Historic art objects provide a collection of materials that have been naturally aged for decades or even centuries. In addition to the intrinsic archival value of these materials, they are also models for understanding property degradation over long periods of time. This project aims to develop computational and experimental tools needed to understand how these changes take place. To accomplish this task a research network has been established between Northwestern University and leaders in cultural heritage science from the Rijksmuseum and the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, the National Research Council in Italy, and the Synchrotron Soleil in France. This new infrastructure promises to deliver a significant enhancement of research and education resources (networks, partnership and increased access to facilities and instrumentation) to a diverse group of users. The art objects central to the project provide a series of well-defined case studies for investigating complex materials systems that are both applicable to materials education and push the limits of the existing analytical tools, thus inspiring instrumental innovations across broad sectors of the physical sciences. Further development of these tools will enable art conservators to more effectively make informed decisions about treatments of works of art, and to understand long-term materials degradation more generally. The project will also deliver a significant enhancement of research and education infrastructure by a diverse group of users and will provide meaningful, international research experience to 50 participants, with a strong emphasis on scientists at the beginning of their careers. In addition, the connections between science and art will illustrate the creative aspects of both disciplines to a very broad audience, attracting a more representative cross section of people into science.
 

Funders

NSF
Funding Program: Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE)
Award Number: 1743748
Funding Amount: $3,481,368

TEAM MEMBERS

  • Kenneth Shull
    Principal Investigator
    Northwestern University
  • Francesca Casadio
    Co-Principal Investigator
    Art Institute of Chicago
  • Oliver Cossairt
    Co-Principal Investigator
    Northwestern University
  • Aggelos Katsaggelos
    Co-Principal Investigator
    Northwestern University
  • Marc Walton
    Co-Principal Investigator
    Northwestern University
  • Discipline: Art, music, and theater | Computing and information science
    Audience: General Public | Museum/ISE Professionals | Scientists
    Environment Type: Public Programs | Museum and Science Center Programs | Exhibitions | Museum and Science Center Exhibits

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