CSMC Researchers Present their Work at SR2A

30 November 2023

Photo: CSMC

Agnieszka Helman-Ważny, Małgorzata Grzelec, and Samaneh Ehteram at the SR2A conference 2023 in Munich

At the 10th International Conference on Synchrotron Radiation and Neutrons in Art and Archaeology (SR2A 2023), CSMC researchers presented current research projects that they carry out in collaboration with Deutsches Elektronen-Synchroton (DESY).

At the conference, which was held in Munich from 21–24 November, Sylvio Haas (DESY) and Agnieszka Helman-Ważny (CSMC) gave a talk on the application of small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering, a method they currently employ to investigate the structure of paper and pigments in Tibetan tsakali objects. PhD researcher Małgorzata Grzelec (CSMC) presented a poster summarising the first stage of a project on using X-ray scattering methods to characterise the materials and production technologies of paper. Both presentations thus belong to the project on ‘Measurements of Paper Components’ (RFA20) at the Cluster of Excellence ‘Understanding Written Artefacts’.

Samaneh Ehteram (CSMC/DESY) presented a poster on ENCI, a portable high-resolution X-ray tomographic scanner that makes it possible to read enclosed cuneiform clay tablets. The device was developed in the UWA project on ‘Reading Closed Cuneiform Tablets Using High-Resolution Computed Tomography’ (RFA09). Her presentation won the 3rd prize in the poster competition.

Overall, 61 international researchers presented their projects during the conference. The event concluded with a round table discussion about the need to improve communication between the scientific communities at synchrotron facilities and professionals from the cultural heritage sector, and to create more opportunities for cooperation. With their deepening collaboration, DESY and CSMC are actively engaged in bridging the gap between these research communities.