Cultural and Natural Heritage at the ESRF: Looking Back and to the Future

摘要

Introduction The community of heritage scientists is increasingly exploiting synchrotron- based techniques. This trend has been partially initiated at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), Grenoble, France, over the last 20 years. The main reason for this success is the adequacy of the instrumental capabilities, fitting with the scientific challenges and analytical constraints associated with such materials. Strategic decisions from management also contributed to boosting these activities: (1) the recruitment of beamline scientists, post-doctoral fellows, Ph.D. students, with specific expertise in heritage science, palaeontology, and archaeology; (2) the co-organization (with CNRS/Institut Néel) of the first SR2A (Synchrotron Radiation and Neutrons in Art and Archaeology) conference in 2005; (3) the implementation of a dedicated beamtime allocation panel in 2005; (4) the integration of this community (its needs and constraints) in the funding upgrade document (purple book) and in the design of new and refurbished beamlines (see later in this article).