What are the ethical implications of heritage science work with synchrotrons and neutrons? What new ethical questions need to be addressed as these new methods are increasingly applied to cultural and natural heritage research? Come debate these questions with an interdisciplinary group of international specialists!
When: 20-21 May, 2026
Where: LINXS, The Loop, Rydbergs torg 4, 224 84 Lund
Organisers: LINXS Heritage Science Theme, all working groups
Target Group: Heritage Scientists, Anthropologists, Archaeologists, Museum Specialists, Beamline Scientists
ABOUT
The increasing access of heritage researchers to large-scale facilities coupled with the highly significant nature of the artefacts sent for analysis makes it especially important to consider the ethics involved in investigating items using neutron and synchrotron techniques. Often these approaches are described as “non-destructive” when discussing analysis with museums and other stakeholders. But what does this really mean? Do synchrotron- and neutron-based techniques alter the physical nature of artefacts? Are there other types of culturally sensitive impacts we should consider (e.g. when working with indigenous communities or part of collections acquired during colonial times)? Are such alterations significant (and if so, to whom)? And what considerations need to be taken for the transport, handling, and return of culturally significant heritage items?
As large-scale facilities are increasingly incorporated into the workflow of heritage research projects, it is important that we take a step back in order to consider the ethical implications of our scientific practice. This workshop will include a range of heritage science specialists from both large-scale facilities as well as museums in order to consider the ethics of heritage science using synchrotrons and neutrons.
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DAY ONE
Introduction
9:00–9.20 Coffee and welcome
9.20–9.30 Mikael Fauvelle – LINXS Introduction
Session 1 – Scientific Ethics in a Museum context
9.30–9:55 Jamie Hampson
9:55–10.20 Björn Nilsson
10.20–10:50 Coffee Break
10:50–11.15 Lucia Burgio
11.15–11:40 Laura Perucchetti
11:40–14.00 Poster session & Lunch (simultaneously)
Session 2 - Is it really non-destructive?
14.00–14:25 Laura Longo
14:25–14.50 Susan Nehzati
14:50–15:15 Anna Fedrigo
15:15–15.45 Coffee Break
15.45–17:15 Roundtable Discussion (led by Courtney Nimura and Lucia Mancini) open to all participants
19:00–21:00 Social dinner (only for organizers and speakers)
DAY TWO
Session 3 - Digital Heritage and Shared Knowledge
9:00–9:25 Ethics in palaeontological research – Imran Rahman
9:25–9:50 Synchrotron X-ray CT in Natural and Cultural Heritage – Vincent Fernandez
9:50–10:15 Emanuel Larsson
10:15–10:45 Coffee Break
Session 4 – What are Sensitive samples
10:45–11:10 Patrick Randolph Quinney
11:10–11:35 Luca Bondioli
11:35–12:00 Open Q & A session
12:00–13:30 Lunch
13:30–16:00 Roundtable Discussion (Lead by Organizing Comm,)
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Mikael Fauvelle (main organiser)
Susan Nehzati
Courtney Nimura
Anna Fedrigo
Lucia Mancini
Björn Nilsson -
Ethics in palaeontological research
Imran Rahman
Imaging and analysis of fossils using synchrotron- and neutron-based techniques has provided invaluable insights into the history of life on Earth. With the growing interest in applying these techniques in palaeontological research, it is increasingly important to be aware of the potential ethical questions that could arise from such work. A particular area of concern is Myanmar amber, which preserves remarkable fossils that have shed new light on the diversity of past life, but is associated with serious legal and ethical issues. Fossils housed in private collections are another source of concern as these may not be accessible to other scientists for further study. Palaeontologists and specialists from large-scale facilities must work together to ensure all the specimens used in experiments were collected and exported ethically and in accordance with the relevant laws and that they have been deposited in a recognized, publicly accessible repository (e.g. natural history museum).
Synchrotron X-ray CT in Natural and Cultural Heritage
Vincent Fernandez
ESRF – The European Synchrotron, 71 avenue des martyrs, 38000, Grenoble, France
X-ray micro-Computed Tomography (micro-CT) has become a key imaging tool used in many areas of science. Prominently used in biomedical imaging, its application has broadened significantly over the years, including in the field of natural and cultural heritage. These latter applications pose distinct challenges: specimens can differ widely in size, geometry, and composition, and are often too valuable or fragile to be altered for easier scanning.
Nevertheless, micro-CT has proven extremely powerful in these contexts, enabling important discoveries and offering new insights into museum collections. Synchrotron facilities are frequently used to investigate fossils and artworks notably due to the X-ray beam high intensity, collimation, and spatial coherence. Such characteristics make synchrotron-based systems the benchmark for advanced X-ray tomography.
The increasing role of natural sciences and cultural heritage research is also influencing the evolution of synchrotron infrastructure. At the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, for example, the BM18 beamline is being developed to accommodate the specific constraints and needs of these research areas, reflecting their growing prominence in the scientific community.
The event is co-sponsored by the Italian Embassy of Sweden.
Italian Cultural Heritage is recognized worldwide. The Embassy of Italy in Sweden is proud to support this international event hosted in Lund, where Italian scientists significantly contribute to the advancement of cultural heritage science
Contact
For practical questions, please contact mia.lindstroml@linxs.lu.se
The event is free of charge, but please note that we have a no-show fee of 200 SEK to offset the cost of ordered food.
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