Fenella France
Fenella France is Chief of the Preservation Research and Testing Division at the Library of Congress, and is responsible for researching non-destructive imaging techniques and prevention of collection environmental degradation. She received her Ph.D. from Otago University, New Zealand. After lecturing at Otago, she was the research scientist for the Star-Spangled Banner project at the Smithsonian Institution. An international specialist on the aging of cultural materials, she focuses on links between mechanical properties and chemical changes from environmental damages and treatment protocols. She has worked on projects relating to World Trade Center artifacts, Pre-Columbian mummies and textiles, and the Ellis Island Treasures Gallery rehabilitation. She serves on several professional committees for cultural heritage preservation.