Diagnostics for Cultural Heritage: Research, Conservation, Accessibility

Organized by Scuola Normale Superiore in collaboration with the Opificio delle Pietre Dure, the school is funded by the PNRR through the MERITA, the network for talent project*.
 
Date: 12-15 May 2026
Location:  SNS - Palazzo Strozzi, Opificio delle Pietre Dure
Total hours: 32
Max participants: 16
Language: English and Italian
Application deadline: 15 February 2026
Target audience: Undergraduates, Master's degree holders, PhDs, and recent graduates from both Humanistic and Scientific studies.

The workshop aims to introduce BA, MA, PhD students and recent graduates to theories and applications of Diagnostics for Cultural Heritage: an interdisciplinary growing field, not only for conservation and restoration, but also for research. 
The workshop aims to present the most advanced diagnostic methodologies and techniques applied to the research and conservation of the architectural, archaeological, and historic-artistic heritage (stone, metals, ceramics, textiles, wooden objects, painted materials, etc.), focusing on the strategies, results and future perspectives. 
The program includes a first part structured as a seminar session devoted to the presentation of different methodologies and case studies depending on lecturers’ research fields and experiences (Florence, Palazzo Strozzi), and a second part structured as a workshop session dedicated to the application and use of diagnostic tools (laboratory of the Opificio delle Pietre Dure).

Applicants must submit an application using the form no later than February 15, 2026 and attached an up-to-date signed Curriculum Vitae et Studiorum, including the exams’ list, and a short biographical note outlining the candidate research or study interests (max 600 words).

Each day is made up of 8 hours of lectures (from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm, with a lunch break of about 2 hours).

Participation in the workshop does not entail enrollment fees.
Admission to the course includes participation in the lectures, the educational material and lunch on the days when the course takes place. 
The Scuola Normale Superiore provides participants with lodging in shared double hotel rooms for the duration of the workshop.
 

Keynote speakers:

Giulio Amara​ | Scuola Normale Superiore

Maria Cristina Caggiani | Università di Catania

Andrea Cagnini | Opificio delle Pietre Dure

Patrizia Capizzi | Università di Palermo

Cristina Chiavari | Università di Bologna

Francesca Coletti | Sapienza Università di Roma

Emanuela Daffra | Opificio delle Pietre Dure

Alessia Di Santi | Scuola Normale Superiore

Francesca Di Turo | Scuola Normale Superiore, Laboratorio NEST

Claudio Finocchiaro | Università di Catania

Monica Galeotti | Opificio delle Pietre Dure

Rodorico Giorgi | Università di Firenze

Francesco Grazzi | C​N​R - Istituto di Fisica Applicata “Nello Carrara”

Andrea Guerrini | Scuola Normale Superiore, Laboratorio NEST

Lorenzo Lazzarini | Università IUAV di Venezia

Giovanni Leucci | C​N​R - Istituto di Scienze del Patrimonio Culturale

Costanza Miliani | C​N​R - Istituto di Scienze del Patrimonio Culturale

Elisabetta Neri | C​N​R - Istituto di Scienze del Patrimonio Culturale

Roberta Occhipinti | Università di Catania

Simone Porcinai | Opificio delle Pietre Dure

Silvestro Antonio Ruffolo | Università della Calabria

Fabrizio Sudano | Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Reggio Calabria

Marco Verità | già Stazione Sperimentale del Vetro, Murano (Venezia)

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* MERITA, the network for talent project is the result of a collaboration between five Italian academic institutions: the Scuola Normale Superiore, the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, the Collegio Superiore dell’Università di Bologna, the Scuola Galileiana di Studi Superiori dell’Università di Padova and the Scuola Superiore di Studi Avanzati della Sapienza Università di Roma.
The MERITA project is funded within the Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza (PNRR), Missione 4 – Istruzione e Ricerca, Componente 1, Investimento 3.4 "Didattica e competenze universitarie avanzate"- "Rafforzamento delle Scuole universitarie superiori". (National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), Mission 4 – Education and Research, Component 1, Investment 3.4 "Advanced university teaching and competences" - "Enhancement of the institutions for higher education").
 

(IMG iStock | Credit Cyano66)