Culture and Heritage

Aditya Prakash Kanth

Associate Professor

PhD (Indian Institute of Heritage)

+91.79.61911556

aditya.kanth@ahduni.edu.in

https://ahduni.edu.in/aditya-prakash-kanth/

Research Interests: Scientific investigation of heritage materials and development of conservation methodologies.

Profile

Aditya Prakash Kanth is an Art Conservator with over two decades of professional experience in the conservation and scientific study of cultural heritage. He currently serves as Associate Professor and Programme Chair at the Centre for Heritage Management, Ahmedabad University, where he leads academic and research initiatives at the intersection of conservation science, heritage policy, and material culture studies.

His research focuses on the scientific characterization of art and archaeological materials, archaeometallurgy, and the development of evidence-based conservation methodologies. His work integrates analytical science, material studies, and sustainability perspectives to advance conservation practice in both museum and archaeological contexts. At the University, he teaches courses in Heritage Documentation, Conservation & Preservation Science, Environment & Climate Change, and Chemistry in the Engineering World, cultivating interdisciplinary understanding among emerging heritage professionals.

Prior to his academic appointment, he served as Senior Conservator at the National Museum, New Delhi, and has held senior conservation roles across several cultural institutions. Over the course of his career, he has led and contributed to numerous conservation, documentation, and condition assessment projects across India, working on diverse materials ranging from archaeological metals, paintings, and manuscripts to composite heritage objects.

He holds both his Master’s and PhD in Art Conservation from the Indian Institute of Heritage, New Delhi. He has received advanced international training in conservation from leading institutions including the Tate Gallery, London; the University of Applied Arts Vienna; the Palace Museum, Beijing, ICCROM, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, supported by prestigious national and international scholarships.

Professor Kanth has held international leadership positions, notably serving on the Board of Directors of the International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (IIC), London. He is also an elected Fellow of the International Institute for Conservation (FIIC).

Committed to capacity building in the heritage sector, he has conducted extensive training programmes for museum professionals and conservators, and has been visiting faculty at many heritage institutions across India.

Publications

Kanth, A.P., Soni, A.K., “Application of nanocomposites for conservation of materials of cultural heritage” Journal of Cultural Heritage, pp. 120-130, vol. 59, 2023.
Kanth, A.P., Singh, M. & Mani, B.R., “Archaeometallurgical characterization of ancient copper slags from pre-harappan site, Kunal, India” Analytical Science Advances, pp. 1-9, 2022.
Kanth, A.P., Singh, M. & Ganaraj, K., “Spectroscopic and X-ray based Microstructural investigation of the Early-Harappan potsherds and estimation of firing temperature from Kunal archaeological site, India,” International Journal of Conservation Science, pp. 131-146, vol. 13, Issue 1, 2022.
Kanth, A.P., Singh, M. "Behaviour of methylcellulose get at higher concentrations for cleaning of acrylic painted surfaces” Journal of science and arts, pp. 1057-1068, No. 4(57), 2021.
Kanth, A.P., Singh, M. "Spectroscopic and chromatographic investigation of the wall painted surfaces of an 18th century Indian temple, New Delhi” Vibrational Spectroscopy, 102947, vol. 104, 2019. (Elsevier)
Kanth, A.P., Singh, M. "Vibrational spectroscopy and SEM-EDX analysis of wall painted surfaces, Orchha Fort, India” Journal of archaeological science reports, pp. 434 -444, vol. 24, 2019. (Elsevier)
Kanth, A.P., Singh, M., Pandey, S. "Optimizing the rigidity of agar and gellan gels for cleaning of sensitive acrylic emulsion painted surfaces” International Journal of conservation science. pp. 451-462. vol.9, issue 3, 2018.
Kanth, A.P., Singh, M., Pandey, S. "An explorative study of cleaning acrylic painted surfaces with concentrated polyelectrolyte xanthan hydrogels” International Journal of engineering and science research. pp. 176-185, vol. 7, issue 12, 2017.
Kanth, A.P., Pandey, S. "Recent advances in gel-based systems for cleaning of works of art’ Conservation of cultural property (IASC), pp.41-50, vol.41, 2016.
Kanth, A.P. "Plasma cleaning of bronze objects" Conservation of cultural property (IASC), pp.69-70, vol.35, 2005.

Teaching

Conservation Principles and Processes for masters students at Centre for Heritage Management
Heritage Documentation for masters students at Centre for Heritage Management
Museum Management for masters students at Centre for Heritage Management
Conservation and Preservation Science for undergraduate students at School of Engineering and Applied Science
General Chemistry for undergraduate students at School of Engineering and Applied Science
Environment and Climate Change for undergraduate students (Foundation Programme Studio Lectures)

Professional Service

Director, Chair of Emerging Professionals Committees at the International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (IIC), London.

Life Member of Indian Association For The Study Of Conservation Of Cultural Property (IASC).

Member of Doctoral Dissertation Advisory Committee at the School of Engineering and Applied Science, Ahmedabad University.

Awards

Awarded Erasmus+ KA 107 fellowship for participating in one week ‘Teachers Mobility Programme’ at University of Applied Sciences in Nysa, Poland. (May 2019)
Awarded Indian Travel Grant to participate in ICOM-CC triennial conference held in Copenhagen, Denmark. (September 2017)
Awarded Getty Foundation scholarship to visit Los Angeles, USA to participate in an IIC international conference and visit museums. (September 2016)
Participated in a one-week training workshop on “Scientific Approaches to Preventive Conservation” held in Beijing, China (Selected as one of the nine international participants) organized for training museum professionals. (September 2015)
Three-week summer school internship in University of Applied Arts, Vienna, Austria, funded by Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India. (July 2014)
Awarded Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarship for three months internship in Tate Gallery, London, UK. (September to November 2010)
Awarded Getty Foundation scholarship to visit London, UK to participate in an IIC international conference and visit museums. (September 2008).