Alison WAIN

Alison WAIN is an Associate Professor and Discipline Lead in Cultural Heritage at the University of Canberra, affiliated with the Centre for Creative & Cultural Research and the School of Arts & Communication. Her research focuses on preserving engineering, industrial, and science heritage, emphasizing intangible aspects such as skills and changeability. She holds a PhD from the Australian National University (2013) and has led projects like laser cleaning of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and climate-resilient housing for older Australians. She contributed to the Nuclear Nation project on Australia’s atomic heritage and serves as a consultant for conservation practices.

Education: PhD in Cultural Heritage from ANU (2013). External roles include a 2020–2023 Campus Visitor at ANU. Key research interests include femtosecond laser technologies for conservation, heritage policy, and disaster resilience. Projects include UpCyc (radio telescope restoration), Climate Resilient Housing Toolkit, and Embedding the Change (public policy impact).

Research highlights include pioneering laser cleaning techniques for marble, granite, and biofilm removal. She advocates for the integration of intangible heritage skills and sustainable practices in conservation. Her work bridges technical innovation with cultural preservation, addressing global challenges like climate change and heritage degradation.