ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: In over three decades of teaching conservation science to students at the Conservation Center of the Institute of Fine Arts, the author has prepared a range of assignments whose primary goal is to develop in the student the ability to critically evaluate the scientific literature relevant to the conservation and study of artistic and historic artefacts. Among these assignments have been those that require students to conduct a literature search for a specific dye or pigment, and on the basis of that search, to define the most important open research question related to the selected material, e.g. dates of first and last use, technique of manufacture, conservation of the pigmented surface, identification, etc. In recent years, a five-minute poster presentation has been an additional requirement. Selected results are presented together with typical assignments.
