Sustainable Diagnostics and Cultural Heritage: Achievements and Perspectives of CHANGES Spoke 5

CHANGES | Spoke 5 

“Science and Technologies for Sustainable Diagnostics of Cultural Heritage”

The workshop marks the closing event of SPOKE 5 within the CHANGES project – Cultural Heritage Active Innovation for Next-Generation Sustainable Society, funded under the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) – Mission 4 “Education and Research”.

SPOKE 5, Science and Technologies for Sustainable Diagnostics of Cultural Heritage, focuses on the development of innovative scientific instruments and methods, new computational approaches, integrated applications, and digital technologies aimed at deepening our understanding of material cultures and of the contexts in which tangible cultural heritage is created, exists, and transforms over time.

Since 2023, SPOKE 5 has delivered advanced diagnostic instruments, conservation models and protocols, and digital solutions designed to make the characterization and preservation of cultural heritage more sustainable, accessible, and climate-resilient.

The workshop will present the scientific results achieved by the affiliated partners across the six work packages structuring SPOKE 5:

• WP1 – Advanced non-invasive methods for sustainable diagnostics in Heritage Science
  Participants: CNR, OPD, UniCT, UniBO, UniFI, GSSI
  
  

• WP2 – Understanding degradation mechanisms and developing preventive solutions for resilience
  Participants: CNR, UniCT, UniNA, UniBO, OPD, UniRM1
  
  

• WP3 – Remote and close-range sensing, AI and IoT-based solutions for addressing climate change threats
  Participants: CNR, GSSI, UniBO, UniCT, UniRM1
  
  

• WP4 – Advanced diagnostics and scientific methods for organic materials
  Participants: UniBO, UniNA, UniFI, UniRM1
  
  

• WP5 – Digital technologies, AI/ML solutions, and chemometric methods supporting data-driven Heritage Science
  Participants: CNR, GSSI, UniCT, UniBO, UniRM1
  
  

• WP6 – Cross-disciplinary interpretation of novel diagnostic data and definition of multi-method protocols for Cultural Heritage studies
  Participants: UniRM1, CNR, UniBO, UniCT, Edil Co.

The program combines thematic WP sessions with oral contributions in which SPOKE 5 partners will present and discuss achieved results as well as future strategies for the Cultural Heritage sector.

The workshop is open (with a maximum number of 100 participants) to PhD students, post-doc, researchers, conservators, cultural heritage professionals, museum managers, and private companies interested in sustainable diagnostic solutions. The event will foster interdisciplinary dialogue among the hard sciences, humanities, industry, and stakeholders, laying the groundwork for future innovation and collaboration.

Date and Venue: 28–30 October 2025, Catania
Languages: English and Italian
Registration: Participation is free of charge; registration is mandatory by 22 September 2025