Scientific research in architectural conservation

A comprehensive research agenda is needed that balances past achievements with emerging issues of the future. Although the strengths of current research are worth highlighting, it is equally important to understand the weaknesses and major gaps in the research on conserving the built environment. In particular, the lack of an overall research strategy, inadequate funding and poor translation of research into policy and practice are key problems. Strategies for the future need to allow the research agenda for the historic environment to be both focused and effective. An analysis of European research can be found in the EU Parliament's Scientific and Technological Options Assessment Panel (STOA) report of 2001: Technological requirements for solutions in the conservation and protection of historic monuments and archaeological remains,1 while in the UK, English Heritage has published its strategy as Discovering the Past, Shaping the Future.2 There is a range of new research needed, from work on philosophical, social and management issues to science and technology. The field also continues to lack good publications for communicating its research output to the end users.