UC EVENTS

Speaker: Alison Wain & Natalie Ison

Date\Time: Thursday 27 August 2026, 12:30-13:30

Location: Building 1 Level A Room 1A21, University of Canberra (NB Room 1a21 is accessed from the foyer joining Building 1 and Mizzuna café); 

or Zoom: http://zoom.us/j/95029077504

Abstract

In 2023 we started looking into the potential impacts of declining fossil fuel use on the fabulous and exciting world of operating heritage machinery. Would fossil-fuel based fuel and lubricants spike in price and plunge in availability as renewables took off? Early survey work undertaken with our Industry Reference Group showed the size and value of this sector as well as the passion people have for their machines. Since then however, world events have both sharpened and changed our understanding of these issues! This seminar will apply a theoretical crystal ball to the survival of operating heritage machinery in a rapidly changing world. 

All are welcome!

Bio

Alison Wain is Associate Professor in Cultural Heritage at the University of Canberra teaching materials conservation and heritage practice. Her research focuses on the challenges of preserving and interpreting engineering, industrial and science heritage, and the importance of recognising the intangible heritage of culture, skills and changeability connected with and embodied in machinery heritage.

Natalie Ison is a PhD candidate and research assistant at the University of Canberra. She is researching the organisational and museum aspect of this fossil fuels project for her PhD looking at how a phasing out of fossil fuels might impact their operating heritage machinery collections.  Natalie is an objects conservator and has been a contract conservator in the private sector but also in Conservation, Registration, Exhibitions, Executive and Heritage departments of museums. 

Supports and fundings: 

A portion of this research is funded by Aust. Govt PhD stipend plus joint funding from UC and EHA

Alison and Natalie would like to acknowledge our Industry Reference Group who provide invaluable insight into this project.

The Culture and Creativity Seminar Series is hosted by the Centre for Cultural and Creative Research (CCCR), Faculty of Arts and Design, University of Canberra. To discover upcoming seminars, please follow us on Facebook @uccccr, or Instagram and Twitter @uc_cccr. Alternatively, join our mailing list by emailing cccr@canberra.edu.au.

Any questions and accessibility requests please contact: cccr@canberra.edu.au.