The strengthening alliance between scientists and curators in the battle to save some of humanity’s greatest art and cultural treasures was the focus of a four-day international conference in Caracas, co-sponsored by UNU-BIOLAC.

“Storing and protecting entire collections safely has become a priority and scientists have a key role: developing techniques and procedures that are fundamental to heritage conservation,” said UNU-BIOLAC Director José-Luis Ramirez.

Many of the world’s cultural treasures are made of organic materials such as paper, canvas, wood and leather which, in prolonged warmth and dampness, attract mould, micro-organisms and insects, causing decay and disintegration. Biotechnology techniques discussed at the conference include the use of micro-organisms to remove fungus on paintings, photos, documents and masonry.

The three-day international conference on sustainability science focused on topics critical to the promotion of sustainability science, including climate change, food and water, and sustainability education.

January 22 marked the centenary of the birth of U Thant who, in 1969 as UN Secretary-General, first proposed the creation of the United Nations University.

This 21 January symposium highlighted the need for reform of international institutions to better reflect 21st-century realities and more effectively deal with evolving threats.