COURSES AND EVENTS 101 RICHeS TRANSFORMING THE FUTURE OF CONSERVATION AND HERITAGE SCIENCE IN THE UK MEGGEN GONDEK THE UK is widely seen as a global leader in conservation and heritage science, with an extraordinary range of research programmes. While these programmes often intersect and inform one another and sector bodies such as IHBC, ICON and NHSF act as collaborative hubs, there has, until now, been no single framework to help coordinate resources and disseminate knowledge at a national, or indeed transnational level. That role is now fulfilled by RICHeS, the UK’s new Research Infrastructure for Conservation and Heritage Science. It represents a long-term £80 million investment from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), to strengthen excellence and collaboration across the conservation and heritage science sector. RICHeS is more than an infrastructure programme, it is a catalyst for transformation, enhancing the UK’s position as a global leader in this field. WHAT RICHES CAN OFFER YOU RICHeS opens the door to a connected ecosystem of expertise, facilities and nationally significant collections. Through the programme, users can access: • World class research infrastructure, including specialist laboratories, mobile units and unique reference collections • Expert support to address conservation and heritage science challenges • Collaborative opportunities with leading researchers, practitioners and institutions across the UK UKRI’s mission is to advance knowledge, improve lives and drive economic growth through research and innovation. RICHeS contributes directly to this ambition by delivering a generational step change in sector effectiveness, efficiency and excellence. Specifically, RICHeS will: • Catalyse a more informed, collaborative and innovative UK heritage science community • Ensure the sector has the capability and the capacity to meet demand and deliver world-class scientific outcomes • Ensure that heritage science equipment, expertise, resources and data are findable and accessible to users, available to external stakeholders, and capable of being leveraged by a range of partners. Through these investments, RICHeS will strengthen sector resilience, support evidence-based policy, deepen public understanding and enhance the UK’s global reputation for excellence in heritage science. A NATIONAL NETWORK OF COLLECTIONS AND FACILITIES Launched in October 2024, RICHeS is invested in national capability through 13 host collections and 17 host facilities across the UK. From 2026 onwards, these will be fully operational, offering year-round access to a broad range of users. Each investment includes dedicated specialist staff to support informed and effective access. The RICHeS portfolio reflects the full breadth of conservation and heritage science, spanning architecture, archaeology, art, moving image, written texts and landscapes. Examples include: • The National Trust Paint Archive Collection, which holds paint samples from historic properties • Historic Royal Palaces’ REVEAL, which provides access to over 1,000 years of architectural history • Historic Environment Scotland’s Retrofit Centre for Traditional Buildings and Cardiff University’s Dr Nicola Emmmerson, co-lead of the RICHeS Perfform investment at Cardiff University, thermal Imaging a building exterior (Photo: Cardiff University)
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