Natural History Conservation

Graduates from the programme Natural History Conservation possesses basic knowledge of theory, methods, equipment and practice in working with scientific collections and natural and cultural heritage objects within the main areas of botany, zoology, geology and human specimens collected for research or in museum contexts within the context of the subject areas concerned. The graduates has insight into biological systems, nomenclature rules, materials and their properties and use, degradation phenomena and methods of analysis related to their formation, manufacture and use. They have practice-based knowledge in material identification, documentation, historical and up-to-date preservation treatments as well as optimal preventive storage conditions and have knowledge of curation, handling and collection of natural history objects, archaeological and museological working methods, and stone preservation and field preservation.

Knowledge:

• Knowledge on degradation based on material knowledge
• Knowledge of theory, methods, equipment and practice within the areas of active and preventive preservation, restoration, academic history, relevant adjacent science, crafts and arts
• Knowledge of museum legislation and the subject's ethical guidelines and of the museum world, cultural heritage landscapes.
• Knowledge of museum work, outreach and academic methods knowledge of the changing function, meaning and value of the objects in different contexts.

Skills:

• The ability to apply the theory, methodologies and equipment of the subject in practice in connection with the preservation of cultural and/or natural heritage
• The ability to assess professional issues and select and justify the choice of relevant solution models and scientific analyses
• The ability to access museums, the cultural community and the labour market with the skills to communicate and discuss conservation and conservation issues and solutions with both peers and non-specialists

Competences:

• The ability to handle and communicate complex issues in both study and work contexts within the field of preservation and restoration of cultural and natural heritage in the handling of collections and in working contexts in conservation professional and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• The ability to identify their own learning needs and to structure their own learning in various learning environments within conservation science and relevant related subject areas