With generous funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), through their Building AI Capability and Datasets for Science and Engineering Research programme, we are addressing the DSIT AI for Science strategy by helping researchers make better use of this valuable data landscape. 

Applications open on the 2nd November 2026. For more information about the grants, visit the HSDS Grants page. 

Who Can Apply? 

Applications are open to UK organisations including HEIs, UKRI Independent Research Organisations (IROs), as well as museums, archives, galleries and other community partners subject to meeting the eligibility criteria set out in the Guide for Applicants.

Key Information 

• Applications open: 2nd November 2026
• Deadline: 4th December 2026
• Funding available: Projects may cost up to £50,000 and we will pay 80% of this 

Online Information Sessions 

Two information sessions will be held on the 9th and 17th November 2026. A recording of the webinar session will be made available on the HSDS Grants webpage:

• 9th November 2026, 11:00-12:00 Register to attend (webinar 1)
• 17th November 2026, 14:00-15:00 Register to attend (webinar 2)

For further information and to access application materials when available, visit the Grants page or contact ai-applications@hsds.ac.uk. 

ICOM-CC, the International Committee for Conservation, is part of ICOM (the International Council of Museums) and is the world’s largest network of conservation professionals. Its Triennial Conference, held every three years, is one of the biggest gatherings in the field, bringing together conservators, conservation scientists, and curators from around the world.

The poster, “The Heritage Science Data Service at the National Gallery: Documenting, sharing, and reusing paint sample data,” looks at a resource many conservation scientists will recognise: an archive of paint samples and analytical data built up over almost a century, immensely valuable but not always easy to find, understand, or reuse.

The team from the National Gallery is building a digital catalogue of the Gallery’s heritage science data, including its paint sample archive. Once complete this metadata will be shared through the HSDS Data Catalogue so researchers elsewhere can discover it. They’re also developing a more sustainable system for recording exactly where samples were taken from a painting, testing open-source platforms like ResearchSpace, and building on existing linked data standards so that the approach can be adopted by other institutions as well. Much of this work builds on the Heritage Paint Samples Working Group, which the National Gallery coordinates with over a dozen UK institutions, including Tate, National Galleries Scotland, and the Science Museum Group, to develop shared standards for paint sample documentation across the sector.

The poster is on display throughout the conference and the team from the National Gallery will be around all week, so if you’re in Oslo please stop by! They’re keen to talk through what they’ve learned so far and hear how these challenges show up in other collections.

Find out more about ICOM-CC 2026: icom-cc2026.org

The poster, “Towards accessible interconnected digital heritage science and conservation documentation: The Heritage Science Data Service project and the National Gallery, London“, looks at one of the biggest challenges facing conservation science today: how to keep track of the vast amount of data generated by decades of technical examination and conservation work.

The National Gallery holds almost 100 years’ worth of research records from the examination and conservation of its paintings. It’s an extraordinary resource, used daily by staff and consulted regularly by external researchers, but like many institutions, these records are spread across different formats and locations, making them hard to search and putting valuable detail at risk of being lost.

The National Gallery is helping tackle this problem starting with paint sample documentation. Working with the wider research community, the team is developing a standardised metadata framework that preserves the vital links between artworks and the conservation and scientific analysis they’ve undergone, an approach designed not just to benefit the Gallery, but to be scalable across other institutions facing the same challenges. Paint samples are unique, limited, and often partially or wholly consumed during analysis. Better tracking of the connections between artworks, samples, data, and interpretation helps prevent unnecessary re-sampling and makes existing data easier to find and reuse.

The poster makes the case that a collaborative, cross-institutional approach to conservation documentation leads to data that is better structured, more sustainably preserved, and more widely accessible, ultimately supporting stronger research and conservation outcomes across the sector. We look forward to seeing the National Gallery team share this work with the wider conservation community in Ghent.

Learn more about the IIC 31st Congress: iiconservation.org

Since launching in April 2026, Ingest has been adopted by a growing number of researchers, field archaeologists, and heritage professionals as their primary method for depositing data with the ADS and HSDS. Following the success of our first round of training sessions, we are now offering a new programme running from August through to December 2026.

What’s on offer

This round includes two session types, designed to take users from their first introduction to Ingest through to confident, real-world application.

Introduction to Ingest is our core session for anyone who hasn’t yet trained with us. Over 90 minutes, the session covers an overview of the system and a live demonstration, to help guide you through the deposit process. By the end, you’ll have everything you need to begin depositing your own datasets with confidence.

Ingest in Practice is a follow-on session for users who have already completed the introductory session. Moving beyond the basics into real-world application, this session focuses on how to complete metadata templates accurately and efficiently, and how to structure complex, multi-phased projects within Ingest. Through live demonstration and hands-on practice with realistic scenarios, participants will leave equipped to handle even the most demanding deposits.

Both sessions include dedicated time for questions, so come prepared with anything you’d like to ask our expert team.

Session dates

Introduction to Ingest (Thursdays 10:00–11:30 AM) 

• 27 August May 2026 – Register
• 17 September 2026 – Register
• 15 October July 2026 – Register
• 5 November 2026 – Register
• 10 December 2026 – Register

Ingest in Practice (Thursdays 10:00–11:30 AM) 

• 3 September 2026 – Register
• 24 September 2026 – Register
• 22 October 2026 – Register
• 26 November 2026 – Register
• 17 December 2026 – Register 

All sessions are free to attend and take place online. No prior experience is required for the Introduction session. To attend Ingest in Practice, participants should have completed an Introduction to Ingest session first.

Can’t make these dates?

If none of the above sessions work for you but you’d still like to receive training, please contact the HSDS Helpdesk (help@hsds.ac.uk) with the subject line ‘Ingest Training’ and we’ll do our best to help.

Coming soon: instructional videos

We are also continuing to develop our online guidance with a series of instructional videos that will walk users through the deposit process and provide additional guidance on compiling metadata. We’ll announce these through our website and social media channels when they are ready.

How to book

Sign up for all sessions via our Ingest training page or through the ADS Eventbrite page. 

Training sign-up: https://uoy-ads.github.io/ads-ingest-documentation/tr/tr_index/

Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/archaeology-data-service-102723478891

Over £500,000 has been awarded through the first call of the RICHeS Access Fund to 43 organisations across all four nations of the UK, enabling them access to specialist heritage science facilities, collections and expertise that would otherwise have been beyond their reach. 

The successful organisations include museums, galleries, libraries, archives, charities, community organisations, freelancers, independent researchers and universities. Many are accessing this kind of scientific infrastructure for the first time, having previously lacked the resources, networks or institutional pathways to work with advanced heritage science facilities. For many award holders, this is the first opportunity to undertake this type of research without requiring affiliation to a university or an Independent Research Organisation (IRO).

The RICHeS Access Fund was created to remove those barriers, opening participation in heritage science to a far wider range of organisations. By providing access support, the RICHeS Access Fund is enabling organisations of all sizes, including those outside traditional research environments to ask new questions, develop innovative approaches and contribute to the UK’s heritage science capability.

The response to the inaugural RICHeS Access Fund call was exceptionally strong, reflecting both the demand for specialist facilities and the appetite, across organisations of every size, to put scientific research to work answering new questions about the UK’s shared heritage.

The projects now underway will:

• Uncover new evidence about historic objects, buildings and archaeological sites
• Improve conservation methods for nationally significant collections
• Investigate the impacts of climate change and environmental conditions on heritage
• Apply advanced imaging and scientific analysis to reveal previously hidden information
• Create new digital resources and research data that will benefit future generations

Projects will draw on facilities and collections distributed throughout the RICHeS network, reflecting the breadth of expertise available across the UK’s heritage science infrastructure.

Professor Meggen Gondek, RICHeS IHQ, said:

‘RICHeS is incredibly proud that our network of facilities and expertise is going to be able to contribute to so many meaningful projects across the UK. Unlocking the potential of our past through heritage science is just the start and we look forward to seeing how the successful applicants will use these new revelations and breakthroughs to tell new stories, protect heritage and develop impact for their communities.’

From access to impact

The RICHeS Access Fund represents more than an investment in individual research projects, it represents a significant expansion of who can participate in heritage science. For many of the successful organisations, this is the first time they have been able to access advanced scientific facilities, specialist collections and technical expertise of this kind. Without the support of the RICHeS Access Fund, many of these projects would not have been possible.

By removing financial and practical barriers, the RICHeS Access Fund is enabling organisations that have historically had limited access to research infrastructure to undertake ambitious investigations, develop new partnerships and build confidence in using scientific approaches to address heritage challenges. The impact extends beyond individual projects, the funded work will generate new knowledge, strengthen conservation practice, develop sector capability and create lasting connections between heritage professionals, researchers, communities and the RICHeS infrastructure.

Each funded project has its own objectives, but together they represent a significant investment in the future of the UK’s heritage sector. The examples below offer a snapshot of the work now beginning across the UK.

The Naburn Whale: A new Yorkshire icon

• Project Lead: Sarah King, York Museums Trust
• RICHeS Investment Lead: BIOARC-HS

The Naburn Whale skeleton, currently in storage at York Museums Trust. Image courtesy of York Museums Trust.

York Museums Trust, an independent charity, is uncovering the remarkable story of the Naburn Whale, a rare specimen that has been part of York Museums collection for over a century. The mounted skeleton is believed to be the white (beluga) whale stranded at Naburn Lock in 1905, far from its Arctic home, but its species has never been scientifically confirmed. 

Using modern scientific techniques, including Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS), the analysis will confirm the specimen’s identification and unlock its potential for research, learning and public engagement. The whale will become the centrepiece of a new exhibition exploring Yorkshire’s wildlife, biodiversity and climate challenges, inspiring visitors to connect with nature and reflect on our changing relationship with the natural world.

Dr Sarah King, Curator of Natural Science at York Museums Trust, said: 

‘We are delighted to have been selected as a recipient for the Access Fund. This funding will enable us to delve deeper into our extensive biology collection, uncover the forgotten or hidden stories of the Naburn whale specimen and present this information back to the people of Yorkshire and our museum visitors from around the world. As a charity, York Museums Trust is always incredibly grateful for the generosity of these funding schemes which help us to provide valuable insight into the rich and varied sites and collections in our care.’

Bouldnor and the Submerged Solent

• Project Lead: Garry Momber, Maritime Archaeology Trust
• RICHeS Investment Lead: Coastal and Inland waters Heritage Science Facility

Maritime Archaeology Trust’s Garry Momber preparing an 8,000 year old structure for recovery from an eroding submerged landscape in the Solent.

Maritime Archaeology Trust, a charity dedicated to exploring and protecting underwater cultural heritage, is investigating a hidden prehistoric landscape beneath the waters of the Solent, the stretch of sea between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, lies a hidden prehistoric landscape that reveals how people lived thousands of years ago. Once a dry river valley, forest and coastal environment, this ancient landscape was gradually submerged as sea levels rose after the last Ice Age.

Around Bouldnor on the Isle of Wight, archaeologists have discovered some of the UK’s only surviving in-situ Mesolithic settlement sites, including wooden structures and thousands of worked flint tools dating back over 8,000 years. Coastal erosion is exposing and threatening these remains but is also creating a unique opportunity to study a perfectly preserved prehistoric environment. This investigation will use marine bathymetry and sub-bottom profiling to map the submerged landscape, investigate how is has changed over time and share the story of this lost landscape, connecting communities with the archaeology, climate change and human history hidden beneath the Solent.

Garry Momber, Director at Maritime Archaeology Trust, said: 

‘The Maritime Archaeology Trust is thrilled to receive support through the RICHeS Access Fund to help uncover secrets from the cultural heritage hidden below the waves in Bude, Langstone Harbour and the Solent. The survey capability that the fund provides will, for the first time, reveal buried features that feed into our understanding of the changing coastline, shipwrecks and the people that found themselves on both. The results will provide new evidence about our forebears that will feed into the Maritime Archaeology Trust’s research and our broader education programme.’

New Narratives of the Norman Conquest: Dating Bosham’s ‘Bayeux Tapestry’ Power Centre

• Project Lead: Duncan Wright, Newcastle University
• RICHeS Investment Lead: Institute for Heritage and Environmental Science: 14CHRONO

Harold Godwinson at Bosham, as depicted on the Bayeux Tapestry. Engraved by James Basire (1769–1822), after Stothard; hand-painted by Charles Alfred Stothard (1786–1821). Image: © courtesy of The Society of Antiquaries of London.

Newcastle University are investigating the story of the Norman Conquest, in part, at Bosham in West Sussex, the power centre of Harold Godwinson, England’s last Anglo-Saxon king. Depicted on theBayeux Tapestry, Bosham was where Harold prepared for his journey to Normandy in 1064, but the true story of this important site is only now being uncovered.

Recent archaeological research has revealed the remains of a high-status Anglo-Saxon hall and later medieval buildings, offering new insights into elite life before and after the Conquest. This project will use advanced scientific dating techniques to establish the exact timeline of these discoveries, transforming our understanding of Bosham’s role in early medieval England. Coinciding with the 2026 Year of the Normans and the Bayeux Tapestry display in the UK, the project will bring new perspectives to one of the country’s most significant medieval heritage sites.

Dr Duncan Wright, Senior Lecturer in Medieval Archaeology, said: 

‘The generous support of the RICHeS Access Fund will allow the first scientific dating of Harold Godwinson’s palace at Bosham, a site made famous by its depiction on the Bayeux Tapestry. The site of Harold’s enclave was identified in 2024 by the AHRC-funded project Where Power Lies, but it is not entirely clear when the site was founded and how it evolved over time. This RICHeS Access Fund will support dating of both standing buildings as well as buried archaeological remains at Bosham; the work will provide a detailed chronology of Harold’s famous site to be developed, in the year that the Bayeux Tapestry comes to the UK for the first time.’

Bayeux Tapestry, Bosham was where Harold prepared for his journey to Normandy in 1064, but the true story of this important site is only now being uncovered.

Recent archaeological research has revealed the remains of a high-status Anglo-Saxon hall and later medieval buildings, offering new insights into elite life before and after the Conquest. This project will use advanced scientific dating techniques to establish the exact timeline of these discoveries, transforming our understanding of Bosham’s role in early medieval England. Coinciding with the 2026 Year of the Normans and the Bayeux Tapestry display in the UK, the project will bring new perspectives to one of the country’s most significant medieval heritage sites.

Dr Duncan Wright, Senior Lecturer in Medieval Archaeology, said: 

‘The generous support of the RICHeS Access Fund will allow the first scientific dating of Harold Godwinson’s palace at Bosham, a site made famous by its depiction on the Bayeux Tapestry. The site of Harold’s enclave was identified in 2024 by the AHRC-funded project Where Power Lies, but it is not entirely clear when the site was founded and how it evolved over time. This RICHeS Access Fund will support dating of both standing buildings as well as buried archaeological remains at Bosham; the work will provide a detailed chronology of Harold’s famous site to be developed, in the year that the Bayeux Tapestry comes to the UK for the first time.’

Animal bones as powerful carriers of meaning: memory and identity, life and death

• Project Lead: Mandy Keating, Freelance Specialist
• RICHeS Investment Lead: SHEFF BIOARCH

A disarticulated animal skeleton organised for identification and examination at SHEFF BIOARCH

Hidden within scientific collections, animal bones hold stories about life, death, environments and the changing relationship between humans and animals. This project brings a specialist zooarchaeology collection to new audiences through collaboration between researchers and artists.

Independent freelance specialist is working with animal skeletons from Sheffield’s BIOARCH reference collection, four artists will explore themes of memory, identity and human–animal connections, transforming scientific specimens into creative works that encourage reflection and discussion. Presented through the Festival of the Mind, the project will reveal the wider significance of animal bone collections beyond research and teaching, combining science and creativity to open new ways for audiences to understand the past and our changing relationship with the natural world.

Mandy Keating, Freelance Artist, said: 

‘Animal bones are rich cultural and scientific resources that preserve evidence of biology, human–animal relationships, and environmental and cultural change across time. They provide a unique way of exploring questions of memory, identity, life, and death. Artists will bridge research and the arts to reveal new perspectives on bone collections.’

These four projects represent just a small sample of the diverse work supported through the first RICHeS Access Fund.

Across the UK, funded organisations will investigate subjects ranging from Roman military landscapes and prehistoric archaeology to historic bridges, museum collections, archival records, maritime heritage and climate resilience. Together, they demonstrate how access to world-class heritage science infrastructure enables organisations to answer new research questions, strengthen conservation practice and create lasting public benefit.

A lasting legacy

Where appropriate, research data generated through the RICHeS Access fund will be deposited with the Heritage Science Data Service (HSDS), ensuring outputs are Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable (FAIR). This growing evidence base will support future research, enable wider collaboration and maximise the long-term value of the investment, the first step in strengthening the UK’s heritage science capability and building organisational confidence in scientific research across the sector.

Looking ahead

The first round RICHeS Access Fund demonstrates the transformative potential of widening access to heritage science infrastructure. Over the coming months, RICHeS will share stories, discoveries and outcomes from these organisations, highlighting the difference this investment is making for organisations, researchers and communities across the UK.

A second Access Fund call is planned to launch this autumn, creating further opportunities for organisations to access the RICHeS infrastructure and develop ambitious new research.

Today’s announcement marks the beginning of a more open, collaborative and inclusive approach to heritage science. One that enables organisations of every size to use world-leading scientific expertise to better understand, protect and share the UK’s cultural heritage.

Ready to Transform Your Heritage Research?

Funding is made available under two themes, thanks to the generosity of UKRI through AHRC’s RICHeS initiative:

Theme 1: Generate Datasets (up to £25,000) – Enable or Enhance Access to Heritage Science and Conservation Resources. 

Theme 2: Develop Virtual Research Environments (up to £15,000) – Partner with STFC Hartree Centre’s software engineering experts to develop cutting-edge digital tools.

To explore examples of previously funded projects from round one of the HSDS grants programme, take a look at our grant success page.

Key Details

• Deadline: 5pm GMT, 30 September 2026
• Funding: 100% Full Economic Cost covered
• Open to: UK universities, museums, archives, galleries, community partners, and UKRI Independent Research Organisations

Don’t Miss Our Information Sessions 

Get guidance on your application at our online information sessions:

• 10 June 2026, 11:00-12:00 Register to attend
• 16 June 2026, 13:30-14:30 Register to attend

Both sessions cover the same content, so you only need to attend one. A recording of the webinar will be added to the Grants pages of the HSDS website after the second session.

Apply Now

Transform your heritage science research with dedicated funding support.

Visit our Grants Programme page for full details and application materials, or contact applications@hsds.ac.uk with any questions.

Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), through the Research Infrastructure for Conservation and Heritage Science (RICHeS) programme.

A VRE is a secure, custom-built online platform that acts as a central digital workbench for researchers and teams, providing high-powered computing virtually through your own PC. Designed to support heritage professionals, the platform enables users to analyse, share, and visualise their work more efficiently, making complex research processes faster and more collaborative. 

Built by STFC Hartree Centre, users will be able to access specialist software including:

• Blender
• QGIS
• R (GUI interface)
• CloudCompare
• GIMP
• VS Code
• ImageMagick
• MetaShape

Users will also be able to directly access HSDS data sets, allowing them to select relevant files and quickly load data into their personal storage area. 

The ways in which the VRE can be used will vary depending on individual project aims and the data being analysed. Current applications include calibrating large numbers of radiocarbon dates and automated feature detection of cultural heritage features within LiDAR datasets. VREs are already supporting a wide range of heritage science and conservation research projects. You can see further examples of VRE use cases on our Case Studies page. 

Access to the HSDS VRE is open to all heritage science and conservation researchers. Access is granted through an application process, which includes submission of a Data Management Plan and the completion of the VRE Account Creation Form. More information on how to register for use can be found on our ‘How to Access the VRE’ page. 

As a new and evolving service, the Virtual Research Environment will continue to develop, with several updates already planned. If you have any comments or suggestions, please contact the HSDS Helpdesk at help@hsds.ac.uk.

Some keys events include:

• AIM
  • 10th-11th June 2026 Ushaw
  • What defines a truly successful museum? This perennial question lies at the heart of this year’s conference. Drawing on ground-breaking new research into the sector’s most effective business models, we will unpack the essential strategies and practical steps your institution needs to succeed.
• ICON 
  • 24 – 25 June 2026 Edinburgh
  • This years theme of Practice, People and Purpose offers a valuable opportunity to come together to celebrate the work of professional conservator-restorers, shining a spotlight on the power of the Conservation profession. There will also be a dedicated ‘Heritage Science Zone’, sponsored by RICHeS.

For both conferences the HSDS will be exhibitors ready to answer any heritage science and conservation related questions. While you attend these conferences please do take some time to stop by and say hello and find out how we could help your organisation.