Icon Skills: Introduction to Heritage Science

Dr Lynda Skipper

Senior Lecturer / Programme Leader, University of Lincoln

Lynda is a senior lecturer in conservation of cultural heritage at the University of Lincoln, and is joint author of the forthcoming Science for Conservators book, Experimental Design and Scientific Data Analysis. Before joining the University of Lincoln, she worked as a conservator for the Science Museum and National Trust.  

Lynda became a fellow of the Higher Education Academy in 2016. Her main areas of teaching are conservation science, collections care and preventive conservation, and she also provides bespoke training to heritage organisations on these topics. Lynda’s research interests include historic interiors, wallpapers and pigments, and the biodeterioration of stone.  

Dr Philip Skipper

Research Associate and Associate Lecturer, University of Lincoln

Philip is a research associate and associate lecturer at the University of Lincoln and is joint author of the forthcoming Science for Conservators book, Experimental Design and Scientific Data Analysis. His main field of research is the bioreceptivity and biodeterioration of heritage building stones. In addition to researching into the heritage impacts of biological growth Philip has a keen interest in the conservation and restoration of heritage vehicles, and has worked within the heritage motorsports field for the last 7 years. 

Philip lectures in heritage science and preventive conservation at undergraduate and post graduate levels introducing the students to wide ranging techniques including multispectral imaging, fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy and a range of microscopy techniques.  

He also works as a freelance heritage science consultant, currently contracted with Historic England to provide advice and run research projects on biological growth, biodeterioration of heritage materials, surface treatments and general heritage science.