{"id":3068,"date":"2026-07-08T09:55:17","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T08:55:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/bodies-emotions-material-culture\/?page_id=3068"},"modified":"2026-07-11T13:24:52","modified_gmt":"2026-07-11T12:24:52","slug":"heritage-digital-microscopy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/bodies-emotions-material-culture\/heritage-digital-microscopy\/","title":{"rendered":"Heritage Digital Microscopy"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Heritage Digital Microscopy<\/h1>\n

At the University of Manchester\u2019s History Department, The Bodies, Environments and Material Culture Collective<\/em> hosts the largest collection of cutting-edge digital microscopes at any Faculty of Humanities in the UK. The Collective\u2019s heritage digital microscopy activities are led by Professor Stefan Han\u00df<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Our collection of state-of-the-art digital microscopes is used for the advanced microscopic analysis of heritage artefacts.<\/p>\n

We are guided by the conviction that microscopic, material-scientific analysis deepens our understanding of the material properties of historic artefacts, including manuscripts and prints. This insight is crucial to accurately characterising, interpreting, preserving, and sharing heritage, as well as improving its accessibility. Building on this foundation, we spearhead an integrated approach to innovative heritage digital microscopy. The digital microscopic study of historic artefacts helps us recalibrate and historicise the matter and making of material culture, and how it was experienced on a sensory and cognitive level.<\/p>\n

Using digital microscopy to study historic artefacts allows us to tell exciting new stories about the past, to recover hidden histories, and historical agents.<\/p>\n

Methodological innovation is at the core of our activities. We are committed to developing a range of innovative applications of digital microscopy for heritage and to advancing and refining its methods.<\/p>\n

To support this work, we draw on the unique breadth of expertise within The Bodies, Environments and Material Culture Collective<\/em>, whose members have an exceptional track record in pioneering the use of digital microscopy in material culture studies.<\/p>\n

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Digital microscopes<\/h2>\n

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<\/a> Explore our exceptional collection of digital microscopes<\/pee>[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column_inner][et_pb_column_inner type=”1_2″ saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″][et_pb_code admin_label=”Teaching and training” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n

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Teaching and training<\/h2>\n

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<\/a> Find out about our rich teaching and training provision<\/pee>[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][et_pb_row_inner admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”3.17.6″][et_pb_column_inner type=”1_2″ saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″][et_pb_code admin_label=”Materials” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n

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Materials and partnerships<\/h2>\n

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<\/a> Find out about the materials and institutions that we have worked with<\/pee>[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column_inner][et_pb_column_inner type=”1_2″ saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″][et_pb_code admin_label=”Grants” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n

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Grants<\/h2>\n

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<\/a> Learn more about the financial investments made into heritage digital microscopy<\/pee>[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][et_pb_row_inner admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”3.17.6″][et_pb_column_inner type=”1_2″ saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″][et_pb_code admin_label=”Publications” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n

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Publications<\/h2>\n

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Contact<\/h2>\n

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