Conservation PhD Program Welcomes Chongwen Liu

At the intersection of his interests in history and science, Chongwen Liu found the field of conservation. To pursue these interests, he became a candidate for his PhD in the Conservation of Material Culture offered by the UCLA/Getty Interdepartmental Program (IDP) in the Conservation of Cultural Heritage, housed under the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology and the Division of Social Sciences.

“I always loved going to museums, feeling like the artifacts gave me connection with ancients and their fascinating stories. But as a boy in China, I was told that I should study science,” Liu explained. So he received his BS in chemistry from Peking University and then studied archaeological science at University College London, where he received his master’s in September, 2022. “Now I feel that conservation is the place I can be more free to do the things I am truly interested in,” he added.

As one of the first Chinese students studying conservation abroad, Liu was impressed with the UCLA program’s connection with the Getty, “one of the best conservation institutions in the world,” he said. Also, while he was doing his undergraduate research, he was intrigued by articles by Ioanna Kakoulli, a core faculty member of the Conservation IDP and Cotsen Institute and professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. She has since become Liu’s advisor.

Together, they are working on developing anti-fouling systems to be used on cultural heritage items that are underwater to help prevent deterioration caused by unwanted organisms. The project is in its initial stages, and they are exploring various options. The first strategy involves generating a “smooth” surface of the target object so that the bio-organisms cannot attach themselves. Another possibility is to embed a toxic material in the object that will kill or harm the organisms. Unfortunately, Liu explains, the current strategies in this field applied are not convincingly “green” and controllable solutions, and his hope is to find the “green, but efficient way of protecting” these objects. With his chemistry background, he feels he can contribute to this topic. “This is like developing new conservation materials and, although it is something I have a little experience in, I like the challenge, and I feel there is a lot of potential to further explore our underwater heritage.”

Since the project is in its initial stages, Liu is starting by reviewing the literature in this field in material science and a few examples in conservation. Not surprisingly, he adds, most of the examples are from the coastline around Italy.

After figuring out a few films or biocides to test, the next step would be to go into a laboratory environment. If those tests were successful, he hopes to experiment to see if they really work in the ocean. “I feel this is a really long process because there are so many potential materials, “ Liu explained, although he thinks he might mainly focus on marble because it is one of the most common materials of underwater cultural heritage . To add to the variables, he notes that “the bio-organisms are different everywhere in the world.”

“I need to learn more and maybe establish more connections with material scientists to get their opinions and possibly get them involved in this research.”

Liu’s personal goal is to do interdisciplinary research that hopefully allows him to do a wide range of research. After getting his PhD, he would be open to returning to China for “a really good opportunity,” but ideally would be able to work cross-culturally.

He is really enjoying his time in Los Angeles not only because of his work at UCLA, but because of the sunshine, he says. “My mood can be affected by the weather,” as he found out when he was in London. He’s a big sports fan, playing soccer and basketball, although he claims “I’m not very good at it.” He also joined the intramural soccer league on campus.

To help expand his Los Angeles experience, he just got his driver’s license. He currently can walk to the Cotsen from his apartment, but hopes to eventually get a car. He knows that driving in Los Angeles will only be a warm-up to driving in Beijing.