The agreement was signed today at the Baths of Diocletian.Scientific collaboration agreement between the National Roman Museum (MNR) and the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), represented respectively by the Director Federica Rinaldi and from the President Fabio Florindo.
According to the Agreement, in the next four years the two Institutions will collaborate on promotion of joint research initiatives and enhancement of cultural heritage committing to promoting the organization of institutional events in the fields of dissemination and diffusion of knowledge relating to cultural heritage and activities, both nationally and internationally, in accordance with its institutional objectives.
In particular, the Institutes will jointly identify opportunities for collaboration and research programmes aimed at promote investigation methods and protection from natural and anthropogenic risks affecting cultural heritage, including museum buildings and exhibition venues, but also the works exhibited and conserved in the deposits, thus deepening the historical-artistic knowledge and the technical-scientific investigation methods in the sector of geophysical, physical and chemical techniques applied to cultural heritage.
They will also promote and develop exhibition events, shows and initiatives, contributing to the creation of outreach and educational projects also in the field of the history of science applied to cultural heritage.
“The joint activities between INGV and the National Roman Museum will start with innovative studies of magnetic biomonitoring of air pollution", explains Fabio Florindo, President of INGV. “We will apply advanced paleomagnetism techniques to leaves and lichens, transforming them into real natural sensors capable of tracking the spread of metallic particulate matter produced by car and rail traffic in the areas inside and surrounding the Baths of DiocletianThis line of research follows the pioneering studies coordinated by Aldo Winkler, INGV coordinator for the Agreement, on magnetism applied to nature-based solutions for the preventative conservation of cultural heritage. This approach opens new perspectives for the use of non-destructive and non-invasive geophysical techniques, essential for the protection, identification, and analysis of artistic and archaeological finds..
“Air pollution represents a threat to cultural and architectural heritage; the Agreement with the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology will allow the National Roman Museum, divided into four museum sites spread across the heart of the city of Rome - Palazzo Massimo, Baths of Diocletian, Crypta Balbi and Palazzo Altemps - to
Monitor and prevent damage caused by air pollution to the stone materials of the works in the collection and in storage. Routine and scheduled maintenance, prevention, and the adoption of modern conservation techniques, with the support of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, will allow us to safeguard and pass on our cultural heritage to future generations., declares Federica Rinaldi, Director of the National Roman Museum.
The signing of the Scientific Collaboration Agreement between the INGV and the MNR. From left: Fabrizia Buongiorno, Director of the INGV Environment Department, Fabio Florindo, President of the INGV, Federica Rinaldi, Director of the National Roman Museum, and Aldo Winkler, INGV representative for the Agreement.