How can we preserve pieces of art for future generations? How is chemistry used to help prevent the deterioration of old art works? In the Xperimania (www.xperimania.net) chat “How are chemicals used in art restoration?” on 5 February at 14.00 CET, students can put these questions to Mrs. Myriam Serck-Dewaide, the Director General of the Belgian Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage. The chat language will be French.

Chemistry is a key factor in practical conservation. It helps to reduce damage from sunlight, humidity and poor maintenance. In a pure or mixed form, petrochemicals are widely used in treatments, in preventive conservation, remedial conservation and restoration.

The expert of the chat, Mrs. Myriam Serck-Dewaide, is the Director General of Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage, which is dedicated to the study, conservation and development of Belgium's cultural heritage. Its role covers analysis of the work required for the conservation of art objects, advice and treatments in preventive conservation, remedial conservation and restoration.

Mrs Serck has a university degree in art history and archaeology. Before her current position, she was in charge of many highly well known projects in Belgium and abroad, including works for the Louvre Museum in Paris.

Interested in taking part in the Xperimania online chat held in French? Schools can register by sending an email to xperimania@eun.org  with the subject line “French Xperimania chat”.

For further information, please contact:
Ann Whent, Appe
email: awh@cefic.be
Tel. (+32) 02 6767360
Agueda Gras- Velazquez, European Schoolnet
email: agueda.gras@eun.org
Tel.  (+32) 02 790 75 83
 
Further information:

About Xperimania

Xperimania is organised by the Association of Petrochemicals Producers in Europe (Appe), and coordinated by European Schoolnet on their behalf. All schools in the European Union, candidate countries and EFTA countries are invited to join in. Participating students must be aged 10-20 years old. It is free to participate. Visit www.xperimania.net and find all the background information and resources needed to get started.
Appe

The Association of Petrochemicals Producers in Europe – Appe (www.petrochemistry.net) – is the voice of the European petrochemical industry and brings together about 70 member companies. Appe is part of Cefic (www.cefic.be), the European Chemical Industry Council representing about 29,000 large, medium and small chemical companies which employ about 1.3 million people, and accounting for nearly a third of world chemical production. It is based in Brussels, Belgium.

European Schoolnet

European Schoolnet (EUN) is a unique not-for-profit consortium of 31 ministries of education in Europe created in 1997. EUN provides major European education portals for teaching, learning and collaboration and leads the way in bringing about change in schooling through the use of new technology (see www.eun.org).