The 8th Conference on Chemistry for Cultural Heritage (ChemCH 2026), held from 8–11 June 2026 in Bled, Slovenia, concluded with remarkable scientific achievements and exceptional visibility in the media. Bringing together more than 200 leading researchers, conservators, heritage professionals, and industry partners from around the world, the conference highlighted the growing importance of chemistry and heritage science in understanding, preserving, and communicating cultural heritage.
The event attracted extensive attention from Slovenian national media. It was featured on Slovenian national television and radio, including interviews and dedicated reports on the significance of heritage science and the role of ChemCH 2026 in advancing interdisciplinary research. The conference was presented as an example of Slovenia’s increasing prominence in the global heritage science community and as a platform where cutting-edge analytical methods, digital technologies, and AI meet the humanities and cultural heritage practice.
In the course of the event, the Round Table was organised on “How to Ensure Impact of Scientific Research in Heritage Organisations” with distinguished panellists:
- Prof Dr Ali Abdelhalim, Director of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt
- Prof Dr Carl Heron, the British Museum, Director of Scientific Research, United Kingdom
- Prof Dr Ronny Maik Leder, Director General, Natural History Museum of Leipzig, Germany
- Ms Martina Lesar Kikelj, Head of the Restoration Centre, Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, Slovenia
- Dr Jana Kolar, Director of the National and University Library, Slovenia
- Prof Dr Maite Maguregui, Chair of the EUChemS Working Group Chemistry for Cultural Heritage, University of the Basque Country, Spain and New York University, USA
- Ms Zhou Ping, Vice-Director of the Emperor Qinshishuang Mausoleum Museum, China
We also celebrated three invited plenary speakers:
- Dr Barbara Huber, ChemCH Early-Stage Scientist Awardee 2026, Institute of Archaeological Science, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Prof Dr Koen Janssens, ChemCH Distinguished Scientist Awardee 2026, University of Antwerp, Belgium
- Assoc Prof Dr Matija Črešnar University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, and GreenHer CoE Co-Director
The extensive media and professional coverage reflects not only the scientific excellence of the conference but also the growing public interest in heritage science. From uncovering the scents of ancient mummies to developing AI-supported methods for analysing heritage materials, ChemCH 2026 showcased how science can reveal new stories about our shared past and contribute to its preservation for future generations.
- Aktualna tema – Radio Slovenia, First Programme
- RTV Slovenia: Bled hosts the international conference on research and preservation of cultural heritage for the first time
- RTV Slovenia TV report (from 25:05)
- Radio Slovenia – Culture podcast (from 3:55)
- Si21: Slovenia at the forefront of heritage science
- Dnevnik: What did mummies smell like? Slovenian and international science revive the secrets of the past
- ProBauhaus: Bled v središču mednarodnih razprav o prihodnosti kulturne dediščine
We are grateful to all journalists, editors, media outlets, and professional organisations who helped share the excitement of ChemCH 2026 and brought heritage science closer to audiences in Slovenia and around the world.
The conference was organised in a collaboration between GreenHer CoE, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology of the University of Ljubljana, under the patronage of the Slovenian National Commission for UNESCO and under the patronage of the European Chemical Society and was chaired by the CoE Director, Prof Dr Matija Strlič.