Bio
Žiga Šmit is a retired full professor at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. He has been teaching basic physics and a course on archaeometry, while his research work is conducted at the Jožef Stefan Institute in Ljubljana. His general interest is atomic collisions with light ions. He studied ionization mechanisms in inner shells by light ion impact in semiclassical approximation and examined the effects beyond the first step models. Simultaneously, he developed numerical models for practical applications of proton-induced X-rays for chemical analysis, like the analysis of thick target archaeological materials, differential PIXE for the analysis of layered materials, and a combined PIXE-PIGE method for the analysis of historic glasses. His studies include analysis of usewear on flint tools, colored metals of Roman military equipment, glass from different historic periods (from the Bronze Age until the 20th century), (semi) precious stones and paint pigments. Currently he is involved in the analysis of glass from a broader Balkan region, studies of archeological metals and development of software for analytical purposes.

Talk
Overview of Analyses of the Archaeological Glass Finds From Serbia Using PIXE/PIGE Measurements

Bio
Until recently director of the Laboratory of Physics of the Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences. Dedicated first to a long-term task of construction of the Tesla Accelerator Installation and then to the completion of the Facility for Modification and Analysis of materials with ion beams (FAMA – a low-energy part of Tesla). Participated in the development of control and data acquisition systems for isochronous accelerator, ion-beam sources (ECR and multi-cusp types), ion-beam transport lines and experimental channels. Developed heterogenous computer models of ion beam transport, ion beam diagnostics (ion beam profile monitor), and power supplies, and coupled them with human-machine interface, obtaining an integrated modelling environment suitable for operator training. Took part in the development of conceptual projects of radiation protection system of accelerator installation, ion-beam analysis (IBA) channels for analysis of materials in-air and in-vacuum (PIXE, PIXE, RBS), and suggested a concept of eye-melanoma proton-therapy channel. Lately focused on applications of IBA methods in Αrchaeometry and interpretation of results, mainly concerning archaeological glass from the territory of Serbia.

Talk
Non-destructive analytical methods applied for Heritage Science at the Budapest Neutron Centre

Bio
A physicist who graduated from Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest in 1990, completed his PhD thesis on the radioactivity of well-waters and groundwaters at the Doctoral School of Semmelweis University and Eötvös Loránd University, earning his PhD in 2000. In 1996, he began working at the Institute of Isotopes, now known as the Centre for Energy Research, where he explored the potential applications of Prompt-Gamma Activation Analysis (PGAA) at the Budapest Neutron Centre. In 1997, he initiated the development of PGAA applications on various heritage science materials and has continued to work in this field ever since. He has participated in and led numerous national and international heritage science projects, coordinated heritage science-related user programs at the Budapest Neutron Centre, including CHARISMA, IPERION CH, IPERION HS, and E-RIHS. An accomplished author, he has published over 300 scientific papers and co-authored and co-edited three handbooks on nuclear methods in heritage science. Additionally, he is a frequent referee of scientific papers and project proposals.

Talk
Modelling the Lifetime of Paper-Based Collections

Bio
Matija Strlič is Professor of Analytical Chemistry at University of Ljubljana and Professor of Heritage Science at University College London. His main research interests are in modelling of heritage materials, environments, values and decision making. He has published more than 170 peer-reviewed papers and is Editorial Board Member of Heritage Science, Polymer Degradation and Stability and Studies in Conservation. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and of the International Institute for Conservation. His track record includes more than 50 national (Slovenia and UK) and international (EU and bilateral) projects, with total funding of more that €63M for heritage science. He regularly reviews proposals for the EU and 15+ national funding bodies and has worked on the development of Strategic Research Agendas for several national and international funding and policy making bodies. In 2015, he received the Ambassador of Science of the Republic of Slovenia Award for the outstanding achievements in science and international collaboration.

Talk
Advanced Technology in Cultural heritage

Bio
Theodore Ganetsos is a full Professor at the Department of Industrial Design and Production Engineering of the University of West Attica, in Athens – Greece. He is Physicist (PhD 2001 in Dresden in material science). He is the Director of the Non-Destructive Techniques Laboratory. His general interest is the use of non-destructive techniques for materials characterisation. Using portable instruments Raman Spectroscopy, XRF, FTIR and Multispectral Camera, identify pigments in paintings and artefacts. He studied precious and semi-percious stones using portable Raman for identification. Currently he is involved in the analysis of Byzantine paintings in Greek Museums and supervise 4 PhD students. He is the Director of the MSc programme (in English) with the title “Advanced technologies in Cultural Heritage” and related to his cooperation with a company finalise the development of a portable Raman Spectrometer using a Robotic arm in order to study pigments in paintings. He supervised 26 Master thesis and his publications in journals are 124 with over 100 participations in International Conferences

Talk
Multianalytical Investigations of the Romanesque Wall Paintings at Church of St Mary (Kempley, UK)

Bio
Francesca Gherardi is a materials scientist in the Investigative Science team at Historic England, Portsmouth, UK. She received a PhD in Materials Engineering from Politecnico di Milano, Italy, with a research focused on the set-up of nanostructured protective treatments for stone and paint surfaces of Cultural Heritage. She worked as a research fellow at the Politecnico di Milano and University of Lincoln, UK, where she was involved in several international projects on the development of innovative conservation methodologies for stones, paintings, and textiles. She has contributed to different editorial and scientific boards as a reviewer, and has published research papers in peer-reviewed journals, books, and conference proceedings. Her research interests are the analysis of artworks, archaeological objects and buildings, and conservation treatment strategy development.