An online lecture was held by Professor of the University of Palermo Maria Luisa Saladino at the Faculty of Physics and Information Technologies. It was dedicated to the implementation of a joint international project within the framework of the European Union CEI (KEP) 1206.008-19 "Non-destructive multi-analytical methods of research of Old Believers' icons of the Vetka Museum" (head of the project from the Belarusian side is Vladimir Gaishun, Head of the Department of Optics, Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences). The Francisk Skorina Gomel State University, the University of Palermo (Palermo, Italy) and the Institute for Low Temperatures and Structural Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences (Wroclaw, the Republic of Poland) are participating in the implementation of this project.
The aim of the project is to study the icons stored in the Vetka Museum of Old Believers and Belarusian traditions. Professor Saladino shared the vast experience in the research and restoration of historical values - icons, frescoes, paintings, accumulated by her group. With the help of spectral studies in various ranges, it is possible to determine the age of the icon, find out if it has been previously restored, see the degree of preservation of the boards and paint. Old Believer icons make up a huge layer of the historical heritage of Belarus, and the planned research will determine their current state and develop recommendations for their further storage. All research will be carried out using non-destructive spectroscopic methods using portable instruments directly in the Vetka Museum. There will also be events planned to transfer knowledge and skills in the field of archaeometric research and the peculiarities of artifact conservation.
We would also like to note that this is not the only joint project of the Faculty of Physics and IT and the University of Palermo. Thus, students Ivan Kopeikin, Vladislav Tsylko and postgraduate student of the same faculty Konstantin Danilchenko participated in the ERASMUS + program jointly with the University of Palermo (project manager from the Belarusian side, dean of the Faculty of Physics and IT, Ph.D. Dmitry Kovalenko).
Alina Semchenko, Associate Professor, Department of Radiophysics and Electronics
