Biography

Chongwen is from Liaoning, China. He received his BSc in Chemistry with a second degree in Conservation of Cultural Relics at Peking University in 2021. His next destination was University College London where he obtained an MSc in Archaeological Science with distinction. At UCLA, his current research is dedicated to developing bio-inspired antifouling strategies for underwater cultural heritage.

During his undergraduate studies, Chongwen engaged in both the practical and academic sides of conservation. He completed a summer internship at the Research Centre for Cultural Heritage Protection at the Chinese Academy of Social Science, where he participated in the conservation treatment of iron Han Dynasty agricultural tools from the Tongzhou District, Beijing. Whereas his bachelor thesis focused on the analysis of lacquerware excavated from Dongshan West Han Dynasty tombs in Taiyuan, with a highlight on the distinctive deterioration products mechanisms of lacquer films. He broadened his understanding in the analysis of archaeological materials with his master’s research on Byzantine glass mosaics from two Greek monasteries, focusing on their unique technology and provenance.