Tandon School of Engineering
The IFA x Tandon Collaboration is a dynamic partnership between NYU's Institute of Fine Arts and the Tandon School of Engineering, bridging the worlds of art history, archaeology, and conservation with cutting-edge technological expertise. This innovative initiative explores meaningful intersections where humanistic inquiry meets engineering capabilities, unlocking new possibilities for research methodologies and pedagogical approaches. By fostering these interdisciplinary connections, the collaboration aims to generate groundbreaking partnerships that will enhance and transform how both schools approach their respective fields of study.
Special Programming
Illuminating the Past: Synchrotron Applications in Cultural Heritage
Thursday, November 5, 2026, 2:30 pm
In-Person and Online Symposium
Synchrotron-based techniques are opening new possibilities for the study, interpretation, and conservation of cultural heritage, providing access to information about materials and processes at unprecedented spatial, chemical, and structural scales. Yet realizing the full potential of these facilities for cultural heritage requires more than advanced analytical capabilities—it requires connections across disciplines, institutions, and professional communities.
This symposium brings together researchers from natural sciences, engineering, conservation, and the humanities to explore the opportunities for synchrotron research in New York and beyond. The program will showcase current applications of synchrotron methods while opening a broader conversation about access, collaboration, and the co-creation of knowledge.
With support from Create Birmingham and the Mellon Foundation, a groundbreaking cross-disciplinary partnership between the Institute of Fine Arts Conservation Center and Tandon School of Engineering will conduct a comprehensive assessment of Joe Minter's An African Village in America in Birmingham, combining traditional conservation methods with cutting-edge digital documentation technology. The team will employ drone aerial surveys, terrestrial laser scanning, and photogrammetry alongside community interviews and detailed condition assessments to create high-resolution 3D models and develop preservation strategies for this nationally significant site. This innovative collaboration will not only ensure the artwork's preservation but also generate an interactive digital platform that expands educational opportunities and virtual public access, demonstrating how art conservation and engineering expertise can transform our approach to documenting and protecting cultural heritage.
Recent Courses
The Conservation of AI-Based Artworks
(Professors Deena Engel, Hersan Thiago)
Spring 2005
The newest artist is AI. As the landscape for creating and displaying AI-based artworks is fast-paced and ever-evolving, what are the common tools and languages that will be necessary to conserve and re-exhibit these works into the future? In this class, students will work on case studies in collaboration with a contemporary artist and their studio, focusing on artworks created using AI. Students will learn conceptual and practical frameworks of conservation as applied in this field through readings, class discussion and guest lectures, along with lab sessions to learn and apply skills to handle these artworks. Throughout the semester students will design and present conservation concepts for these fragile artworks.
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