David Booth Fellow in Conservation Science, The Museum of Modern Art United States
Artur Neves, PhD, is a conservation scientist specializing in cultural heritage preservation. He currently serves as the David Booth Fellow in Conservation Science at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York. He earned his PhD in Conservation Science from NOVA University of Lisbon in 2023, focusing on cellulose nitrate objects. Neves has led multiple research projects, including at the SOLEIL Synchrotron, IPANEMA, and within the European NEMOSINE project. He was awarded a Fulbright Research Grant to study museum conservation at the University of Maryland and collaborated with prestigious institutions like the Smithsonian. His work explores the degradation and preservation of historical plastic materials, employing advanced imaging and analytical techniques. With numerous peer-reviewed publications, Neves has contributed significantly to heritage science, material culture studies, and conservation strategies. His research continues to bridge the gap between historical scientific advancements and contemporary conservation efforts.
Profile
Orcid
Education 🎓
Artur Neves completed his PhD in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage at NOVA University of Lisbon in 2023, specializing in Conservation Science. His dissertation focused on cellulose nitrate objects, combining historical scientific advancements with modern conservation techniques. He earned his MSc in Conservation Science from the same institution in 2017, achieving a perfect score (20/20) for his thesis on fluorescence markers for cellulose nitrate degradation. Prior to that, he obtained a BSc in Conservation and Restoration from NOVA University in 2015. Throughout his academic journey, Neves has integrated multidisciplinary approaches, blending chemistry, physics, and material science to enhance cultural heritage preservation. His studies have equipped him with expertise in state-of-the-art imaging, spectroscopy, and multi-analytical techniques to assess and conserve historical materials. His educational background has been instrumental in shaping his contributions to conservation research, enabling collaborations with leading heritage science institutions worldwide.
Experience 🏥
Artur Neves is currently the David Booth Fellow in Conservation Science at MoMA, New York (2024-2026). He previously held a postdoctoral research grant at NOVA University of Lisbon (2023-2024) under the “Plastics Metamorphoses” project. From 2023 to 2024, he worked on the REDiscovering Madder Colours project, exploring scientific and artistic preservation of cultural heritage. In 2022, he received a Fulbright Research Grant at the University of Maryland, collaborating with American institutions, including the Smithsonian, on 19th-20th century celluloid objects. He has also conducted research at SOLEIL Synchrotron (France), IPANEMA, and within the European NEMOSINE project. Between 2018-2023, he was a PhD fellow funded by FCT, Portugal. His expertise spans historical plastics conservation, advanced analytical techniques, and museum studies. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, Neves has contributed to cutting-edge heritage science, playing a pivotal role in developing innovative conservation strategies for modern and contemporary cultural artifacts.
🏆 Awards & Honors
Artur Neves has received multiple prestigious grants and fellowships for his work in conservation science. He was awarded the David Booth Fellowship at MoMA (2024-2026), reflecting his expertise in cultural heritage preservation. In 2022, he won a Fulbright Research Grant to study museum conservation in the U.S., collaborating with the University of Maryland and the Smithsonian Institution. He secured two research projects at the SOLEIL Synchrotron in France (2020-2021) to study deep UV luminescence of historical plastics. Neves also received a European research fellowship (NEMOSINE) to investigate the degradation of cellulose-based cinematographic films. He was funded by IPERION HS at IPANEMA (2022) to explore advanced imaging techniques for historical materials. Additionally, his PhD was supported by an FCT scholarship (2018-2023), recognizing his research excellence in conservation science. His awards highlight his contributions to the interdisciplinary study of cultural heritage materials and innovative preservation methodologies.
🔬 Research Focus
Artur Neves specializes in the conservation of historical plastics, particularly cellulose nitrate and acetate-based artifacts. His research integrates material science, chemistry, and physics to develop advanced analytical techniques for assessing cultural heritage degradation. He explores fluorescence markers, deep UV luminescence, and spectroscopy to detect early signs of material deterioration. His work on 19th-20th century celluloid objects has contributed to understanding the stability and preservation of plastic artifacts in museum collections. He collaborates with international institutions like SOLEIL Synchrotron, IPANEMA, and the Smithsonian, applying cutting-edge imaging techniques to study heritage materials. His research also extends to organic colorants in historical artifacts, with projects like REDiscovering Madder Colours. Neves’ work bridges science and cultural heritage, offering sustainable conservation solutions for modern and contemporary art. His interdisciplinary approach enhances museum conservation practices and informs heritage professionals about the long-term preservation of vulnerable historical materials.
Conclusion
Dr. Artur Neves exemplifies the qualities of an outstanding researcher through his innovative contributions, international collaborations, and leadership in conservation science. His work not only enriches academic understanding but also provides tangible benefits to the preservation of cultural heritage. These attributes make him a compelling candidate for the Best Researcher Award.
Publications 📑
2025
- Ivory Emulation: The Naturalness of Early Bioinspired Plastics
2024
-
A Closer Look at Heritage Systems from Medieval Colors to Modern and Contemporary Artworks
- Journal: Heritage
- DOI: 10.3390/heritage7100259
- Contributors: Maria J. Melo, Márcia Vieira, Paula Nabais, Artur Neves, Marisa Pamplona, Eva Mariasole Angelin
-
The Challenge of Cellulose Nitrate-Coated Fabrics: Molecular Characterization of Celluloid Detachable Collars and Fabrikoid
- Journal: Conservar Património
- DOI: 10.14568/cp34829
- Contributors: Artur Neves, Joana Tomás Ferreira, Robert Friedel, Maria Elvira Callapez
-
Iron(III)-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks in Cellulose Acetate Film Preservation: Fundamental Aspects and First Application
- Journal: Journal of Cultural Heritage
- DOI: 10.1016/j.culher.2023.11.013
- Contributors: Abeer Al Mohtar, Maria Inês Severino, Pierre Tignol, Luigi Ranza, Artur Neves, Farid Nouar, Vanessa Pimenta, João Lopes, Ana Maria Ramos, Juan Ignacio Lahoz Rodrigo
2023
-
Best Billiard Ball in the 19th Century: Composite Materials Made of Celluloid and Bone as Substitutes for Ivory
- Journal: PNAS Nexus
- DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad360
- Contributors: Artur Neves, Robert Friedel, Maria J Melo, Maria Elvira Callapez, Edward P Vicenzi, Thomas Lam, Zakya Kafafi
-
Para a História do Celuloide: Evolução da Indústria dos Pentes em Portugal (1880-1970)
-
Safeguarding Our Dentistry Heritage: A Study of the History and Conservation of Nineteenth-Twentieth Century Dentures
- Journal: Heritage Science
- DOI: 10.1186/s40494-023-00989-2
- Contributors: Artur Neves, Robert Friedel, Maria Elvira Callapez, Scott D. Swank
2021-2020
-
Novel Markers to Early Detect Degradation on Cellulose Nitrate-Based Heritage at the Submicrometer Level Using Synchrotron UV–VIS Multispectral Luminescence
-
Decision Making Based on Hybrid Modeling Approach Applied to Cellulose Acetate-Based Historical Films Conservation
-
A Diagnostic Tool for Assessing the Conservation Condition of Cellulose Nitrate and Acetate in Heritage Collections: Quantifying the Degree of Substitution by Infrared Spectroscopy