InnoRenew CoE participated in the “Protection of bronze monuments in the changing environment” project to create a holistic approach for the care of bronze cultural heritage objects. In addition to developing information technology tools and a set of environmental sensors to monitor weather and corrosion processes on bronze monuments, researchers involved in the project also used information technology tools to increase public involvement and better protect the monuments. Namely, the project sought to stimulate the general public’s interest in protecting cultural heritage objects by involving them in collecting data and photographs to document damage to the monuments.

Researchers were interested in taking advantage of the frequent use of mobile devices to monitor cultural heritage deterioration in the external environment. Following the example of similar citizen science projects, they developed a strategy, based on focus group findings, to motivate the public to get involved with scientists to help take care of the monuments. Researchers found that collecting photographs is an appropriate strategy and, as a reward, prepared a series of educational videos for the participants where different parts of the project were presented, thus bringing science closer to the public.

Dr. Ana Slavec, researcher and consulting statistician at InnoRenew CoE, participated in the project and wrote a blog for Metina lista about using cameras and other smartphone apps while traveling to protect cultural heritage objects: “Uporaba fotoaparata in drugih aplikacij na pametnih telefonih na potovanjih za ohranjanje kulturne dediščine.”