Over the past year, the Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI) has been developing a framework to help us describe the research we carry out, and make better decisions regarding the projects we undertake. There are two primary axes to this framework — “research priorities” and “types of research.”

Research Priorities
Museum collections comprise an infinite variety of objects and materials, many of which are influenced by their environment or are inherently unstable. Preservation of collections thus gives rise to such a vast number of questions that CCI cannot possibly conduct research on all of them. Instead, we must select certain areas on which to focus.

When determining our research priorities, our emphasis has always been, and will continue to be, problems facing Canadian institutions and Canadian collections. We take into account three major criteria:

• impact on the preservation of heritage collections in Canada
• impact on the accessibility and understanding of Canadian collections
• corporate considerations

The first criterion for research is that it has a positive impact on the preservation of heritage collections in Canada, i.e. research with a specifically Canadian emphasis. Studies on the deterioration of heritage materials or investigations of ways to improve the care and management of collections exemplify this type of research. Our work in this area includes studies on the treatment of waterlogged basketry from archaeological sites in British Columbia; investigations of modern materials, especially those associated with electronic media — the deterioration of which could lead to the total loss of some components of heritage collections; studies into materials or artifacts with unique Canadian aspects such as birch bark and leather; and the ongoing development of risk-based decision-making tools that could lead to more effective collections preservation or preservation management for all museum or archival collections in Canada.

The second criterion — equally important — is the impact the research will have on the accessibility and understanding of Canadian collections. While improved conservation treatments make objects more accessible to Canadians in a physical sense, research into artifacts or collections leads to increased knowledge and understanding for researchers — which can be construed as accessibility in an intellectual sense. Research in this genre includes studies into the materials and techniques of Canadian creators or artists that allows us to understand better how they constructed their works, as well as investigations into materials and object types of importance to Canadian collections. Work we have carried out includes investigations into the materials and techniques of Canadian artists A.Y. Jackson, Jean-Paul Riopelle, and Norval Morriseau; analyses of pigments found on First Nations artifacts; and explorations of treatments for flags and banners, which often have an iconic significance to a community.

The third criterion we take into account is corporate considerations. The directions and priorities established by the Department of Canadian Heritage are major factors but there are also practical concerns, such as whether we have the appropriate expertise and equipment to carry out the research. In addition, we do not want to duplicate research being carried out elsewhere, although we are happy to collaborate with partners when this is beneficial.

Our research is also driven by the needs of the heritage community in Canada. This community is extremely heterogeneous, ranging from large federal heritage institutions to provincial archives to small volunteer-run community museums and art galleries, and from Aboriginal cultural centres to provincial museum associations to artists. To maintain an awareness of the needs of such a diverse community, we rely on an informal network of conservators and other heritage professionals.

In addition to these informal contacts, we regularly solicit input on potential research areas through structured activities. We hold brainstorming sessions at some conferences of the Canadian Association for Conservation. Delegates generate a list of research priorities, and rank them in terms of importance. Research projects originating from this process include studies on the handling and treatment of mouldy artifacts, and projects on documents containing iron gall ink. We also meet annually with the Preservation Committee of the Canadian Council of Archives to discuss research ideas and results. These meetings have been instrumental in our research into a permanent paper standard, environmental standards for archives and libraries, and the preservation of modern media.

Other venues at which ideas that influence our research are exchanged include the annual meetings of the Canadian Museums Association and the symposia that we host periodically on subjects of relevance to the Canadian heritage community.

Types of Research
CCI does not carry out basic or pure research. Instead, our conservation scientists and conservators conduct applied research and development activities that focus on the preservation and conservation of heritage collections in Canada. Within this range of research we have four categories defined by the nature of the work, the results, and the users of the results.

Foundation research results in new knowledge and/or techniques that are required as building blocks for other types of research within CCI, but which may not, on their own, answer a conservation question. Foundation research at CCI normally involves either the study of materials (in order to understand the chemical and physical properties of heritage materials) or the development or refinement of scientific methods that are required for other research. Examples of our foundation research include a study of iron corrosion mechanisms, and the development of a technique to measure the degree of polymerization of cellulose in paper.

Applied scientific research is undertaken to answer conservation and preservation questions based on an accumulation and interpretation of scientific data, and results in new knowledge for treatments and for collections. Much of CCI’s science laboratory research falls into this category. Examples include our investigations of techniques and materials used by Canadian artists, and the work done on the treatment of waterlogged wood.

Treatment and methods development is aimed at developing practical solutions to challenges with conservation treatments or artifact preservation. This type of research is generally carried out by conservators working directly with an artifact or groups of artifacts. Examples include the development of techniques for local stain removal in textiles using a small suction disk, and the development of a technique to remove rancid whale oil from a large contemporary whale-bone sculpture.

The fourth category, collections preservation research, is research into “preventive conservation.” Results from this type of research can improve decision-making and minimize deterioration of heritage collections through cost-effective management. Examples of collections preservation research include our current work on risk-assessment approaches to collections care, and studies undertaken to prepare technical guidelines or standards.

Future of the Framework
The research framework will be a living document, and will be adjusted as it is implemented in the coming years. Within CCI, it will be used to make choices about our research activities, to ensure that decisions are made in a consistent manner, and to keep our research focused on the needs of the Canadian heritage community. It will also be used to communicate and promote our research activities to our clients and partners.

A list of our current Research and Development Projects is available on our Web site.