<p>I'm going to be a third year chem major next year and was planning on graduating a year early and going to grad school for a chem PhD. But in my analytical chem lab I am working on an art conservation project and I think that I would really like to be a conservation scientist. I'm worried that with only a chem degree and going off to grad school for 5 years (where I will be doing more analytical/materials/nanochem work probably), I won't have any way to get into the conservation science field. Would it be better for me to stay at undergrad for a full 4 years and double major with art history, maybe get an internship at a museum during the extra summer or something? Is grad school for chem in general going to lead me away from a possible career in conservation science?</p>
<p>What does art history have to do with conservation science?</p>
<p>Art conservation science. As in preservation and scientific analysis of works of art in museums. With my chemistry background, I’d be more on the scientific side of things, probably using various spectroscopic techniques on art samples. I’m not exactly sure, but I assume they still want people that are familiar with the pieces.</p>
<p>[Conservation</a> science - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservation_science]Conservation”>Conservation science - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>I don’t know how big the fart conservation ield is.
What you should do is to get an internship at a museum or a lab that does conservation.
I don’t really know how useful getting a PhD is for conservation science, especially the field is pretty small IMO. Look, the PhD will get you 5 years off. 5 years. </p>
<p>You really should speak to the experts that actually work in the field. </p>
<p>You may want to contact them.
[AIC/NU</a> - Art Conservation Science - Mission Statement](<a href=“Materials Science & Engineering | Northwestern Engineering”>Materials Science & Engineering | Northwestern Engineering)</p>
<p>Just ask as a student.</p>
<p>Check the admission requirements for training programs that interest you.</p>
<p>Here are some links:
[Art</a> Conservation and Restoration - FAQ’s](<a href=“http://www.conservartassoc.com/faqs.html]Art”>http://www.conservartassoc.com/faqs.html)</p>
<p>[AIC</a> - Conservation Training Resources](<a href=“http://www.conservation-us.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.viewPage&pageID=694&nodeID=1]AIC”>http://www.conservation-us.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.viewPage&pageID=694&nodeID=1)</p>
<p>[Art</a> conservation training - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_conservation_training#United_States_of_America]Art”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_conservation_training#United_States_of_America)</p>
<p>[Educational</a> opportunities in Conservation and Preservation](<a href=“http://cool.conservation-us.org/bytopic/education/]Educational”>http://cool.conservation-us.org/bytopic/education/)</p>
<p>My wife had wanted to do this during undergrad. She had double majored in art history and chemistry. She had also taken a number of studio art courses. The logical step would be to do an internship at a museum and apply for masters programs in art restoration. There aren’t many programs around though ones to check out are UPenn, NYU, Columbia and surprisingly, Buffalo State College. </p>
<p>From the perspective of a fellow scientist, I can tell you that after you finish a Phd in chemistry, you will be terribly competitive for postdoc positions and little else. If I wanted to get into this area, I would probably consider leaving with my masters and enrolling in an art restoration program. If you think you could do an internship behind your PI’s back, you are pretty naive. Make an effort to check out firms around the country, some will take on assistants (often in the form of unpaid internships). Best of luck</p>
<p>dont think you need to get a degree to prove you know something. </p>
<p>if you’re a smart person, you can always pick up a book and read on your own.</p>
<p>Also: you mentioned that you were doing this work in your chem lab. did everyone there double major with art history?</p>