Biotechnology and Conservation of Cultural Heritage

Franco Palla Associate professor of Environmental and Applied Botanical Sciences at the University of Palermo, Italy. He is teaching in the five-Year Master Degree in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage (being the Coordinator in 2015-2021), Master Degree in Biodiversity and Environmental Biology and Degree in Biotechnology. He is the head of the Laboratory of Biology and Biotechnology for Cultural Heritage, Department of Biological, Chemical, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology (STEBICEF), at the University of Palermo. The based and applied research is focused on biotechnologies for the conservation and restoration of cultural heritage, particularly for the characterization of microbial deterioration of cultural asset, for the isolation and characterization of bioactive molecules with hydrolase or antimicrobial activity; including the characterization and use of plant essential oils as bio-pesticides. He is corresponding and author of 198 papers published ininternational and national scientific journals, books and proceedings, related to the field of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology to studying and for conservation of cultural and natural heritage.

Giovanna Barresi graduated in "Science for Conservation and Restoration" at the University of Florence, Italy. She collaborates in several research projects on diagnostic field - analytical and applied research focalizing on enzymatic cleaning of artworks surfaces. She is expert in digital marketing and collaborates in the editorial field and in communication for the scientific promotion, within the organizational committee for international conferences, in collaboration with the Laboratory of Biology and Biotechnology for the Cultural Heritage of the Department of Biological, Chemical, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology (STEBICEF) at the University of Palermo.