राष्ट्रीय सांस्कृतिक संपदा संरक्षण अनुसंधानशाला
National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property
MINISTRY OF CULTURE · GOVT. OF INDIA ·
Biodeterioration Division
Overview
Biodeterioration is one of the major causes of deterioration of museum objects and monuments in the tropical countries like India. The bio-deterioration division of the laboratory studies the damage to materials by various living organisms like fungi and insects, and understanding their degradation mechanisms on diverse materials such as paper, textiles, wood, stone, etc. The Division is divided into two laboratories: The Entomology Laboratory and the Microbiological Research Laboratory where studies relating to insect problems and the problems caused by micro-organisms are respectively undertaken. Leveraging modern biotechnology, the team is working on development of sustainable, non-toxic, and eco-friendly conservation solutions to protect and restore historical artifacts for future generations.
Research Areas
- Biodeterioration Analysis — identification of harmful fungi, bacteria, algae and insects responsible for decaying organic and inorganic materials like paper, textiles, wood and stone artefacts
- Green Conservation Solutions — development and testing of safe, bio-based treatments to replace hazardous chemicals and to protect cultural property from further decay
Our Team
The employees working at present in the Biodeterioration Division:
| S. No. | Name of the Employee | Designation | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aditi Singh | Senior Scientific Assistant (Microbiological Research) | M.Tech (Industrial Biotechnology) |
Scientific Instruments
The Division has various facilities, including:
| S. No. | Equipment Details |
|---|---|
| 1 | Cooling incubator |
| 2 | Oven |
| 3 | Laminar air flow |
| 4 | Analytical balance |
Photographs of the Equipment
Cooling Incubator, Lab 315
Oven, Lab 315
Analytical Balance, Lab 315
Laminar Air Flow, Lab 321