Biography

John graduated from the University of Wales, University College Cardiff in 1976 in Archaeology  and  Archaeological Conservation.  He worked at the Pitt-Rivers Museum Oxford, Saint Albans Museum, Passmore-Edwards Museum in London, Sheffield Museum, South Yorkshire and ran a conservation unit at Doncaster Museum.  In 1988 John started teaching conservation in what was then Lincolnshire College of Art in Lincoln UK.  This then became part of De Montfort University and subsequently the University of Lincoln.

John managed to escape the academic life twice on sabbatical placements.  In 2000-1 to run a 12 month UK government Funded project developing learning programs for small and voluntary museums throughout Yorkshire.

In 2007-8 John  spent 6 months as the senior conservator on the summer program for the New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust.  This involved long periods living and working in the field at the historic huts at Cape Royds (Ernest Shackleton) and Cape Evans (Captain Scott).

In June  2009 he  packed up and left the UK to come and re develop the conservation course at the University of Canberra.

Selected Publications

A View from the Outside: Conservation Ethics and their Application to the Conservation of Icons. Greenwood J. Thomas, S. ICOM-CC International Meeting, Athens 2006.

In The Cold Light of day: Conservation Challenges in Antarctica.  Presentation to Legal Issues in Conservation Working Party. Greenwood J. ICOM-CC 15th Triennial Conference, New Delhi 2008. Presentation to Legal Issues in Conservation Working Party.

Caring for Collections During Conflict.  Kabul a Museum in Exile. Greenwood J, Cook, J. ICOM-CC 15th Triennial Conference, New Delhi 2008. Presentation to taskforce on Public Engagement in Conservation.

Foxes and Hedgehogs. Greenwood J. AICCM 2009 National Conference

Conservation challenges in the Antarctic. Greenwood J & Absolon M. ICOMOS 2008 Historic Polar Bases Conservation and Management. International Polar heritage Committee

Pole to Pole presentation via video link from Antarctica to International Polar heritage Conference Barrow Alaska. September 2007.

Research Interests

Conservation in extreme climates, effects on materials and equipment of working in all climatic extremes. 

Community conservation, involving communities in the conservation recording and assessment of cultural heritage.

Conservation in situ. Why archaeological sites that are preserved go green and fall apart and what can be done.

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