Several PhD students have already started work, using this reference collection, and industrially co-funded studentships have been developed, looking at the development of Near Infrared Spectroscopy and Imaging techniques for non-destructive analysis and imaging of collection objects in libraries and archives. We also built a number of new collaborations with heritage stakeholders wishing to use such methods.
A large collections of historic papers (500+) has been assembled, characterised and documented, which can now be used as a resource for further research. Acidity, degree of polymerisation, lignin content and a variety of other properties have been measured so the collection can also be used for calibration.
This collection is accessible to researchers within the institution as well as elsewhere.