Semarang, August 7, 2024 – The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) of Semarang State University (UNNES) held an initiation visit of cooperation with Ranggawarsita Museum Semarang. This visit aims to explore the potential of science in the world of museums and the conservation of art and cultural heritage.
Representatives from FMIPA UNNES consisting of the FMIPA UNNES Cooperation Task Force Team chaired by Dr. Triastuti Sulistyaningsih Msi and consisting of Talitha Widiatningrum PhD and Fidia Fibriana PhD, along with Prof. Dr. Sudarmin Msi and FMIPA education staff were warmly welcomed by the Sub Coordinator for Conservation Affairs, Mrs. Laela Nurhayati Dewi SS Mhum. This visit began with a discussion on the role of science in the preservation of museum collections and increasing public understanding of the importance of cultural conservation.
In her remarks, Mrs. Laela said that collaboration between the academic world and museums has great potential to support the development of science, especially in the fields of conservation and restoration. “We see great opportunities in the application of science, such as Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, and Physics, to support efforts to preserve cultural heritage. With this collaboration initiative, we hope to make a real contribution to preserving our cultural heritage,” she said.
Mrs. Laela added that the Ranggawarsita Museum is very open to this collaboration initiative. “We realize the importance of scientific support in maintaining and caring for museum collections. Collaboration with FMIPA UNNES will greatly assist us in developing more effective and sustainable conservation methods,” she said.
The visit also included a tour around the museum’s conservation laboratory, a place where the conservation process of cultural heritage and non-cultural heritage objects that are organic, non-organic, and mixed is carried out preventively and curatively. The team from FMIPA UNNES was invited to see the fumigation process, protection with natural materials and the use of chemicals, as well as preservation techniques for various historical collections. The team from FMIPA UNNES also had the opportunity to directly observe the conditions and maintenance techniques used. Potentials related to the possibility of developing joint research projects, student internships, and joint activities that can provide innovative solutions in the conservation of art and cultural heritage were also discussed during this visit.
Prof. Dr. Sudarmin MSi expressed his enthusiasm for this initiative. “As lecturers who study ethnoscience, we are very excited to be able to apply the knowledge we have learned on campus in real projects like this. Hopefully this collaboration can continue to grow and provide great benefits for both parties,” he said.
This collaboration is expected to produce various useful programs and activities, such as public lectures, workshops, joint research, and the development of scientifically based conservation methods. Both parties agreed to immediately follow up on the results of this visit by signing an agreement on the implementation of the cooperation on the day of this visit.
With the initiation of this collaboration, FMIPA UNNES and the Ranggawarsita Museum Semarang are committed to jointly preserving cultural heritage through an innovative and sustainable scientific approach.
