ELAICH completes pilot course in Israel

The ELAICH (Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage) Project held a special pilot course in Haifa, Israel. 

Participants in the course, which took place from October through December 2010, included 15 ninth-graders from the Hebrew Reali School from Haifa, which emphasizes science and technology, and more specifically, environmental studies. 

Students work at the Senior Synagogue, Tiberias

Students also gave presentations at the dissemination event in Haifa and a study tour was conducted to two conservation sites dating back to the Roman period and currently under conservation by the Conservation Department of the Israel Antiquities Authority.

During the pilot course, students attended lectures given by European experts from five highly rated universities. Additionally, students ran lab experiments and went through a few site exercises, focusing on the study of selected built heritage sites, including documentation and those investigations required to ensure the preservation of historical sites.

“In the past, when we were walking down the promenade, and saw a little clumsy ruin in the background, it wasn’t really important to us, and we didn’t pay much attention. Now, we look at it with other eyes,” said one student who participated in the course. “We now understand how important it is to preserve cultural heritage, and how fascinating this field is.”

The final project included a two-day site work at the ancient Senior Synagogue in Tiberias, established in 1837. 

The ELAICH pilot course in Haifa focused on full testing of the ELAICH methodology’s full structure, through all ELAICH modules, supported by the e-learning application developed by the project. 

During the course, lectures were given by the partners and the students ran lab experiments and conducted a few site exercises which focused on the study of selected standing heritage sites including documentation and those investigations required to ensure the preservation of historical sites. 

To review the full presentation click here.

ELAICH holds pilot course in Istanbul

The ELAICH (Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage) Consortium completed a pilot course for students from three different secondary schools in Istanbul, Turkey, the Akşemsettin Anadolu Lisesi, the İstanbul Atatürk Anadolu Lisesi and the İSOV Anadolu Teknik Lisesi.

The course, held September 27–30, 2010, used the Hagia Sophia as the main heritage site. It was the first ELAICH short course in which all ELAICH educational modules were covered over the four consecutive working days.

Hagia Sophia

A special emphasis on the earthquake protection of monuments was exemplified by the outstanding architectural monument Hagia Sophia.

Theory lectures, class exercises and in situ demonstrations of high-measuring technology by non-destructive techniques were presented. The conclusions and recommendations of the course were implemented in the short course held in Malta in March 2011.

The course was organized with the support of Bogazici University, Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture agency, Istanbul Directorate of Surveying and Monuments of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the Museum of Hagia Sophia.

ELAICH presents at International Congress of Science and Cultural Heritage 2010

The ELAICH Consortium (educational linkage approach in cultural heritage) organized a Round Table session within the framework of the XXVI International Congress of Science and Cultural Heritage 2010 in Bressanone (Brixen), Italy held in July 2010.

During the round table, ELAICH partners presented the principles and merits of ELAICH to participants in the international conference, mainly a mix of cultural heritage scientists and other related stakeholders, such as representatives of a wide spectrum of conservation authorities.

The principles presented were well received by the audience and non-ELAICH participants, including Prof. Stefane Della Torre of the Politecnico of Milano and Arch. Renata Codello of the Superintendence of Venice, who is responsible for the management of archaeological assets in the District of Venice as part of the Ministry of Culture of Italy.

Dissemination Event in IN Bressanone

ELAICH was recognized and welcomed as a tool for cultural heritage professionals to reach young people to increase their awareness of cultural heritage, while tools like ELAICH provide the opportunity for young people to get involved in the public discussion and the (practical) process of the preservation of cultural heritage assets.

The main result of the round table within the framework of a major international congress on science and cultural heritage was that the principles and merits of ELAICH were recognized and subscribed to by the scientific peers of the ELAICH Consortium.

ELAICH’s experimental course in Athens

The ELAICH (Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage) Consortium presented its first results during a special event in Athens, Greece on February 23-24, 2010. 

The event focused on the contribution of polytechnic schools, engineers and industry to the education of citizens to protect Mediterranean cultural heritage. Participants included ELAICH project partners, teachers, students and a number of additional stakeholders.

The event was dedicated to educating high schools students in cultural heritage protection. The ELAICH methodology was at the center of this event and the results of the Athens Experimental Course were part of the discourse.

The first ELAICH course was held in Athens from November 2009 to February 2010. Main topics included:

• Cultural heritage and society
• Cultural heritage protection and architecture
• Architectural values of cultural heritage: perception, documentation, design, restoration, protection
• Cultural heritage and the environment
• Historic materials and structures – pathology and decay
• Compatible and effective materials and conservation interventions
• Earthquake protection of monuments
• Sustainable preservation of cultural heritage

The event was organized by the Technical Chamber of Greece, the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the National Technical University of Athens. 

The first dissemination event was a great success, and included distinguished guests from the Greek education system (university researchers, senior officials from the education system, school principals and students), ministries and industry. 

During the event, the conclusions of the first experimental course in Greece were evaluated and recommendations were made for further developments and better sustainability.