E –Curator: 3D colour scans for remote object identification and assessment

This project draws on UCL's expertise both in curatorship and in
e-Science. It takes advantage of the presence at UCL of world class
collections across a range of disciplines and of a state of the art
colour scanner, the quality of which is unequalled in the UK. The
project aims to apply e-science technologies to museum work and artefact
analysis, exploring the potential to capture and share in a secure and
repeatable manner very large, detailed datasets about museum artefacts,
thereby enhancing international scholarship and facilitating the safe
movement of artefacts. The ability to share validated 3D colour data
could facilitate object-tracking and condition checking, enabling
curators and conservators to compare records collected at different
institutions and stored remotely, or collected over a period of time
under different conditions, in order to assess and monitor change. The
project is jointly funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council
(AHRC), the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
and the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC).

The specific aims of the project are to:
* Develop a repeatable methodology for recording the surface detail and
colour quality of a range of object types and materials
* Explore the potential for producing validated datasets that would
allow closer and more scientific examination of groups of objects, the
processes involved in their manufacture, and issues of wear and
deterioration.
* Examine how the resulting datasets could be transmitted, shared and
compared.
* To begin to build expertise in the use and transmission of 3D scan
data as a curatorial tool.

The PhD student will work as part of a team to explore the usage of the
developed tools and undertake re-scanning and comparison of the objects
on a periodic basis. This work will form the basis of a 4 year PhD
investigation of the abilities of 3D colour scanning and e-science based
data sharing and visualization for the museum community. The studentship
will be supervised by Sally MacDonald, Director of UCL Museums and
Collections and will be based in the Institute of Archaeology.

To be eligible for a full award, which covers the cost of tuition fees
and a maintenance grant (£14,700 in 2007/8), applicants should be
normally resident in the UK. Applicants should have a good background in
museum, material culture, conservation, heritage studies or archaeology
at honours degree level (first/upper second), and preferably some
post-graduate training or museums experience. A strong interest in
cultural heritage technologies is essential and experience in computing
will be an advantage. The studentship must start no later than 1 October
2007.

Application forms can be downloaded from:
<http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate-study/application-admission>http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate-study/application-admission
or are available from Lisa Daniel, Graduate Programmes
Administrator,Institute of Archaeology, UCL, 31-34 Gordon Square, London
WC1H OPY. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7679 7499, email:
<mailto:[log in to unmask]>[log in to unmask] Candidates should
indicate on the application form under "Programme of Study" that they
are applying for the AHRC-EPSRC-JISC Research Studentship.

Further information on the application process may be obtained by email
from: Lisa Daniel (<mailto:[log in to unmask]>[log in to unmask])

The closing date for applications is 10 August 2007.


Sally MacDonald
Director, UCL Museums and Collections
Vice Provost's Office, UCL, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT
tel: 020 7679 2825
mob: 07809 565349
fax: 020 7916 8505
www.ucl.ac.uk/museums

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