The 2026 edition will be held in Les Diablerets Conference Center (Switzerland) from July 12 to 17, 2026, and will focus on "Integrated Approaches to Characterization and Conservation: Tracing Histories, Understanding Change, and Shaping Preservation".
The Scientific Methods in Cultural Heritage Research GRC is a premier, international scientific conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages. The conference program includes an array of speakers and discussion leaders from institutions and organizations worldwide, concentrating on the latest developments in the field. The conference is five days long and held in a remote location to increase the sense of camaraderie and create scientific communities, with lasting collaborations and friendships. In addition to premier talks, the conference has designated time for poster sessions from individuals of all career stages, and afternoon free time and communal meals allow for informal networking opportunities with leaders in the field.
The forthcoming GRC will provide an exciting platform to explore how cross-disciplinary, methodologically integrated strategies drive meaningful progress in cultural heritage research. The conference will emphasize the synergy of complementary scientific techniques and interpretive frameworks, and how integration across scales, analytical modalities and historical, textual, and anthropological research enables a holistic understanding of heritage objects. The sessions will delve into how these approaches can trace the layered histories of practice and use embedded in materials, reveal patterns of transformation and degradation over time, and ultimately shape forward-looking strategies for sustainable preservation. From high-resolution imaging and chemical analysis to data-driven modelling and historical, cultural, and artistic contextual interpretation, the program will span innovations that enhance our ability to tackle complexity, trace genesis and use, understand change, and support the long-term conservation of diverse cultural artifacts and built heritage.
Chairs: Samuel M. Webb and Ilaria Bonaduce
Vice Chairs: Erich S. Uffelman and Francesca Gabrieli
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