Invitation to become a reviewer for JAIC

The Journal of the American Institute for Conservation (JAIC) strives to provide high quality, meaningful articles representing the accepted standards of practice found in all specialty group categories of the art conservation field. To fulfill this mandate, the manuscripts are selected for publication via a multi-tiered evaluation method that consists of senior editors, associate editors, two peer reviewers, and a copy editor. The system ensures that each submission is read by several people who provide a diverse set of perspectives. While the editor positions are fixed, the peer reviewer slots are open to the entire membership of AIC.

The editorial team of the JAIC invites you, as emerging professionals in the field of conservation to participate in the growth and development of your Journal by becoming a peer reviewer. The process does take time but it can also provide several personal and professional benefits to you, your career, and to the Journal.

Being a reviewer gives you the chance to apply the critical thinking skills developed in your graduate training. As a representative reader of young conservation professionals, you can provide a unique perspective on the appropriateness, readability, completeness, and currency of the articles. Review steps can include:
1. Assessing the relevancy and significance of a paper. Does the background information establish the current status of the topic? Will the paper advance this set of information?
2. Examining the structure and flow of the paper. Is it logical? Does it meet the JAIC format requirements?
3. Determining whether the information is presented in enough detail. Is each step understandable? Can the process be replicated? Is sufficient data present to ensure accuracy?
4. Evaluating whether the study has been placed into context of its benefits or applications to conservation. Did it consider the pros and cons, describe limitations, discuss the affects of various parameters or conditions, and/or specify areas for further study?

A very important aspect of the conservation field is the solicitation and valuation of opinions from our peers. This consultation process is formalized for publication using the peer review system to provide fresh eyes and new insights on each manuscript. Through the anonymous process, the reviewer takes on a mentoring role to help the writer produce a publication with greater depth and more thorough, thoughtful descriptions. In general, JAIC reviewers are extraordinarily conscientious and fair in their assessments of the manuscripts.

Being a reviewer is often a first step to becoming a published author in JAIC. It provides the advantage of learning about the publication process and requirements. It also supplies the alternate, and important, perspective of being on the review side of a manuscript. That aspect can allow you to look at your own writing more objectively. Additionally, once a paper is submitted to the Journal, you have the understanding that the reviews are written with constructive goals in mind.

To be included in our reviewer list, please send a request along with your name, email, and areas of interest and specialties to Brett Rodgers, AIC Communication Manager (brodgers@conservation-us.org). All volunteers are welcome. We just received a cycle of papers on May 1 for which we need reviewers. The other submission cycles are February 1, August 1, and November 1.

Please direct any question regarding JAIC or the peer review process to me.

Michele Derrick
JAIC, editor in chief
mderrick@mfa.org

May meeting minutes from AIC 2010 meeting

ECPN meeting: May 11, 2010 - Hyatt Regency Milwaukee Crystal Room

Present at the Meeting:
Anna Marie Weiss
Blanka Kielb
Emily Macdonald-Korth
Amy Brost
Julie Benner
Josiah Wagener
Nathan Sutton
Gary Frost
Karen Pavelka
Rose Daly
Ryan Winfield
Jason Church
Amber Kerr-Allison

1. ANAGPIC
2. Angel's Project
3. Outreach - flier, AAM Emerging Museum Professionals Network
4. Facebook, Twitter, Wikipedia
5. Mentoring program
6. Liasons with graduate programs
7. Survey results
8. CIPP membership

1. Rose checked in with her impression of the ANAGPIC 2010 meeting. She said there was a lot of interest, especially in the mentoring program. She regretted that she did not have a flier prepared so it could be included in the bag the students received at the conference.

2. The Angel's Project was discussed and all the logistics had been worked out for the project, generously sponsored by Tru Vue Gaylord, Hollinger Metal Edge, and University Products.

3. More outreach projects were generally discussed, Ryan suggested we make a flier we could send to Art History or Museum Studies undergraduate programs. In later discussions it was mentioned that if there can be more visibility for the profession it will be a great benefit. Later it was discussed how conservators and museum professionals could network at the 2011 AAM meeting in Houston, Texas. Rose suggested proposing a panel discussion, having a information booth, or some other such project. Ruth Seyler and Ryan Winfield will be asking their contacts at AAM and reporting back at the next conference call.

4. Jason gave some updates about the facebook page, which has a number of followers and it is hoped that discussions about internships, graduate schools, and conservation training can begin in the discussion section of the facebook page. There is a twitter account, Rose is contacting Brett Rogers with info about the account so the proper AIC signage can be used on the site. ECPN members are interested in being more involved with the AIC wiki.

5. Mentoring Program - this is probably currently the most exciting project. The importance of helping emerging conservators to find mentors was really stressed and everyone was happy the project has been going well for some of the mentors and mentees. More mentors are needed as there is an excess of mentees. Members of the ECPN are encouraged to ask established conservators they feel would be good mentors to become involved. The mentors and mentees need to be AIC members,

6. Amber is hoping to have a set of graduate student and faculty liasons set up by the end of the year with all North American graduate programs for art conservation.

7. Survey results - the survey results are ready, and should be e-mailed out to the committee members in the next few weeks. A summary of the survey findings will be posted to the blog.

8. CIPP - Do we still have a reduced membership rate for CIPP?

UD Art Conservation Study Abroad Program to Peru

January 3 – February 4 WINTER 2011

University of Delaware
Center for International Studies

Program Overview

Join us for an exciting adventure in exploring the ancient and living artistic traditions of Peru. The UD Art Conservation Department in conjunction with the Center for International Studies will be offering a study abroad program in Peru in the Winter Session 2011. Our journey will start in Lima, where we will begin our immersion into Peruvian painting and textile traditions through visits to important archaeological sites, museums and conservation labs. From there, we head to Arequipa, Peru’s second largest city and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The historic center of Arequipa, with its robust walls, archways, vaults, courtyards, and intricate Baroque facades made of white volcanic stone, will be our base for class time and practical work. Our final stop is Cuzco, the Inca capitol, where we will explore the living textile customs in weaving communities and the unique painting traditions of the Altiplano.

In addition to visits to important museums, conservation labs and Inca ruins, students will have the opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of weaving traditions, see dyeing and weaving demos at weaving cooperatives, and visit some of the finest examples of Peruvian wall paintings in remote mountain villages. There will be field trips to an alpaca and llama preserve, the largest indigenous market in South America, and facilities that process fibers and pigments. We will have a weekend excursion to the stunning Colca Canyon to learn about indigenous life, ancient forms of terrace agriculture and mestizo architecture. Our trip will culminate in a tour of the Sacred Valley and ruins at Machu Picchu.

This program is open to pre-program students interested in pursuing a career in art conservation. For the duration of three weeks in Arequipa, students will be housed in pairs with local families for a cultural exchange. It would help to have at least a minimal background in Spanish due to housing arrangements in non-English-speaking homes. While in Lima and Cuzco, we will stay in hotels. Most meals will be provided in Arequipa, but some meals may not be included in our trips beyond Arequipa.

Courses

The program includes two courses that offer an overview of the history & techniques of Peruvian painting and traditional textile production with an introduction to basic conservation methods. The courses will include lectures, museum and archaeological site visits, demos, tours of indigenous communities and ruins. They will offer hands-on experience in the production of textiles and wall painting reconstructions using traditional techniques. We will also gain practical skills in textile and painting conservation.

For information and to apply, please visit http://international.udel.edu/studyabroad/programs/database.asp?PWDID=734

Attending the annual AIC conference in Milwaukee? Join us at the Emerging Conservation Professionals Network (ECPN) Meeting, where study abroad director Blanka Kielb will be waiting to meet you and answer your questions.

TUESDAY, MAY 11 • 4:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M.
Hyatt Regency: Crystal Room