THE SCHOOL:

• 17 – 21 November 2025
• In person at the Restoration Conservation Centre ‘La Venaria Reale’ or online on the CCR Digital Lab platform
•  Language: Italian
• Certificate of participation
• Deadline for registration: 7 November 2025

THE OBJECTIVES:

• Provide basic knowledge on the theoretical principles of the techniques under consideration.
• Present an overview of the state of the art and possible applications.
• Transmit skills in data acquisition and processing.

Now in its fourteenth edition, the School of Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy for Applications in Cultural Heritage, offers a training course that combines theoretical lessons on the fundamental principles of the techniques in question e analysis of case studies and practical laboratory exercises dedicated to data acquisition, processing and interpretation.

This year, the programme is enriched with a contribution to the chemometric treatment of spectroscopic data.

The School will be held at the Centro Conservazione Restauro (CCR) ‘La Venaria Reale’ from 17 to 21 November 2025; or, those who wish will be able to follow only the theoretical lessons, mainly in the morning, remotely.

The lectures will be taught in Italian by experts from the JRC, the University of Turin, ISPC-CNR, the Arvedi Laboratory for Non-Invasive Diagnostics of the University of Pavia and the University of Bologna. Basic knowledge of diagnostics and materials used in cultural heritage is required.

PURCHASE OPTIONS

• OPTION A: Module 1: Theoretical Lessons (online)
  Those interested in deepening exclusively the theoretical topics can buy separately Module 1, which will also be provided in online mode for those who choose this option.
  
• OPTION B: Complete course: Theoretical lessons + practical exercises (in presence)
  Those wishing to follow the entire training course, including both theoretical lessons and practical exercises, can purchase the full course, which will take place entirely in person at the ‘La Venaria Reale’ Conservation Restoration Centre.
  The registration fee includes coffee breaks, lunches, a social aperitif, visits to the JRC Restoration and Scientific Laboratories and a visit to the Reggia di Venaria.

THE PROGRAMME
Note: Any changes in timetables and content will be communicated with the final programme, sent before the start of the course to each participant.

Monday 17 November
Theory (in-person and online)
• 13:30-14:00 Reception and registration of participants
• 14:00-14:10 Welcome and presentations (F. Pozzi)
• 14:10-17:30 Introduction to Vibrational Spectroscopy: IR and Raman (T. Poli)

Tuesday 18 November
Theory (in-person and online)
• 09:00-10:00 FTIR spectroscopy in transmission and total attenuated reflection (ATR): sampling techniques, acquisition methods and instrumentation (T. Poli)
• 10:00-11:30 FTIR spectroscopy: Introduction to Spectral Interpretation (A. Piccirillo, T. Poli)
• 11:30-11:45 Break
• 11:45-12:45 FTIR spectroscopy: Spectral interpretation in cultural heritage (A. Piccirillo, T. Poli)
• 12:45-14:00 Lunch break

PRACTICE (in presence, two rotating groups)
• 14:00-15:30 Transmission and ATR FTIR spectroscopy laboratory: Spectral acquisition (C. Ricci, T. Poli)
• 15:30-16:00 Break
• 16:00-17:30 FTIR spectroscopy laboratory: Spectral interpretation (A. Piccirillo)
• 17:30-18:30 Visit to the Restoration Laboratories and Scientific Laboratories of the Restoration Conservation Centre ‘La Venaria Reale’

Wednesday 19 November
Theory (in-person and online)
• 09:00-10:00 Raman spectroscopy: sampling techniques, acquisition methods and instrumentation (A. Botteon)
• 10:00-11:00 Raman spectroscopy: Introduction to Spectral Interpretation (C. Conti, F. Pozzi, A. Botteon)
• 11:00-11:15 Break
• 11:15-12:00 Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS): nods of theory and applications in cultural heritage (F. Pozzi)
• 12:00-12:45 Spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS): Notes on theory and applications in cultural heritage (C. Conti)
• 12:45-14:00 Lunch break

PRACTICE (in presence, two rotating groups)
•14:00-15:30 Raman Spectroscopy Laboratory: spectral acquisition (F. Pozzi)
• 15:30-16:00 Break
• 16:00-17:30 Raman Spectroscopy Laboratory: Spectral interpretation (A. Botteon, C. Conti)
• 18:00-20:00 Social aperitif

Thursday 20 November
Theory (in-person and online)
• 09:00-10:15 Reflection FTIR spectroscopy: mode of acquisition and spectral interpretation (G. Fiocco, T. Poli)
• 10:15-11:30 FTIR micro spectroscopy and imaging: mode of acquisition and spectral interpretation (A. Piccirillo, T. Poli)
• 11:30-11:45 Pause
• 11:45-12:45 FTIR spectroscopy: Spectral interpretation exercises (A. Piccirillo, T. Poli)
• 12:45-14:00 Lunch break

PRACTICE (in presence, two rotating groups)
• 14:00-15:30 Reflection FTIR spectroscopy laboratory: acquisition and spectral interpretation (A. Piccirillo, G. Fiocco)
• 15:30-16:00 Break
• 16:00-17:30 Micro and imaging FTIR spectroscopy laboratory: acquisition and spectral interpretation (T. Poli, C. Ricci)

Friday 21 November
PRACTICE (in presence, two rotating groups)
• 09:00-11:00 FTIR spectroscopy: applications in cultural heritage in the laboratory and on site (E. Possenti)
• 11:00-11:15 Break
• 11:15-12:15 Micro-IR and nano-IR: Synchrotron case studies and investigations (G. Fiocco)
• 12:15-13:15 Introduction to Chemometrics applied to Cultural Heritage: analysis of vibrational spectroscopic data (G. Sciutto)
• 13:15 Conclusion and greetings
• 14:00 Optional visit to the Reggia di Venaria