A publication of
The Illinois-Iowa Section of
The American Chemical Society
 

If you have items to be included in the next newsletter, submit the items by September 20^th to the Secretary.
For the latest information about upcoming events, visit our website at http://membership.acs.org/I/ILIA/

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Marco Leona is the David H. Koch Scientist in Charge of the Department of Scientific Research at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Dr. Leona graduated with a "Laurea in Chimica" from the Universita' degli Studi di Pavia (Pavia, Italy), and obtained a PhD in Crystallography and Mineralogy from the same university in 1995.

As a scientist working in an art museum, Dr. Leona is mostly concerned with the material aspects of works of art. His role at the Metropolitan Museum is that of contributing to and enhancing art historical and art conservation research through the application of scientific techniques. The scientific examination of works of art, the identification of their constituent materials and manufacturing techniques, dating and authentication, the investigation of aging and degradation mechanisms, and the monitoring of environmental conditions in display and storage areas of the museum are the main tasks he and his staff are charged with.

Dr. Leona entered the art and cultural heritage studies field through an NEA-Mellon fellowship at the Conservation Research Laboratory of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). He then joined the staff of the Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, to conduct research on the techniques and materials of Japanese paintings. After a second period at LACMA, as senior conservation scientist, he moved to New York, where he now heads the newly created Department of Scientific Research of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Dr. Leona's own interests lay in the intersection of art and technology and in the elucidation of the material aspects of art production, either for the enhancement of our knowledge of past cultures, or for the preservation of their material vestiges.

His published contributions include the development of new techniques for the non-invasive analysis of works of art by reflectance spectroscopy, the study of Tibetan painting techniques and materials, Infrared and Raman spectroscopy studies of the pigments indigo and Maya blue, Surface Enhanced Raman spectroscopy analysis of natural dyes, and various other topics.

Dr Leona has been a member of the American Chemical Society since 2000.

ABSTRACT

"Art & Chemistry: Authenticity, Conservation, and History of Technology"

Chemistry plays a very important part in the operation of one of the largest art museums in the world. Virtually every aspect of collecting, exhibiting, and preserving the priceless treasures in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York benefits from the work of the chemists, material scientists, geologists, and biologist of the Museum's Department of Scientific Research. Dr Marco Leona, the chief scientist at the Met, will discuss in detail how science contributes to art conservation and art historical research. Presenting examples from his work on artists' choices in Japanese paintings and prints, on pictorial technique and theological intent in Tibetan painting, on ancient nanotechnology, and on the development of new and ultrasensitive methods for the analysis of works of art, Dr Leona will attempt to show that there's more to art than meets the eye.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

Tuesday, October 9th; Dubuque; Topic: Using Toys Creatively; Speakers Lynn Hogue & Mickey Sarquis

Monday, November 5; St Ambrose University, Davenport, IA, Topic: Molecular Wires - How Small Can You Go?; Speaker: Wayne Jones.

UPCOMING EVENTS

National Chemistry Week 2007 is October 21-27.
 
The theme is "The Many Faces of Chemistry." This year's NCW will focus on the diversity of chemistry and its practitioners. More information about NCW, including ideas for activities, can be found at http://chemistry.org/ncw.

The section has once again allocated money to help support your NCW activities. Please submit your request to Mary Ellen Biggin or any of the other executive committee members by September 27. (See addresses below in Newsletter) The request should include a description of the activity, a proposed budget, and your contact information.

We ask that you document any NCW activities you are involved in, even if they are not funded by the section. Please send a description of the event along with pictures to Mary Ellen Biggin.

Go to http://acswebcontent.acs.org/ncw/k-12contest.pdf for more information about the NCW poster contest.

Donald Kiser Memorial Scholarship

The scholarship review committee for 2007; George Bailey, Art Serianz, Rich Craddick and Rick Rogers reviewed the 24 applications .

The 2007 winner of the scholarship is Luke Roling, who graduated from Prince of Peace Academy and College Preparatory School. He will attend Iowa State University and plans to study Chemical Engineering and Mathematics. Rick Rogers attended the awards night at his school and presented the scholarship. Congratulations Luke!!