Projects – Katedra Mikrobiologii

What does “Lady with an Ermine” smell like? Another installment of the Odothek project

The Odotheka project is investigating the aromas of historic objects, such as the Lady with an Ermine, to better understand their history and significance. Working with experts, the aromas associated with the artworks and their surroundings are being analyzed. The research also aims to enrich the experience of visitors, especially the blind.

Project “Saving the Pelplin Gutenberg Bible”

Tomasz Sawoszczuk, Ph.D., Professor at KUE, participated in a unique interdisciplinary conservation project. The project examined substances from previous conservation work, antimicrobial compounds and the natural aging process of paper. The Gutenberg Bible, the first book in Europe printed in movable type, was created between 1452 and 1455 in Mainz. Of the approximately 200 copies, 48 have survived to this day, including Poland’s only two-volume version on paper, kept at the Museum in Pelplin. This copy is distinguished by its 15th-century binding and unique rubrics, and has a market value of about 140 million PLN.

Project TIMELESS - Museum of Lost Inventors

The initiative came about during work on the TVP documentary series Geniuses and Dreamers, dedicated to forgotten Polish inventors such as Jan Szczepanik, Stefan Banach and Kazimierz Prószyński. The research project focuses on finding, preserving valuable documents, photos and memorabilia related to their work, which are often in private collections and are not under conservation care or made available to the public.

OPUS 20 + LAP project: Olfactometry in cultural heritage research: capturing, reconstructing and preserving historical odors

The Odotheka project started on December 1, 2021, and will last until 2025.

The goal of the project is to study the smell of selected historical objects of special significance to cultural heritage. Due to their storage in display cases, their scent remains inaccessible to visitors, although it can be of significant importance, especially for the blind. The objects to be studied will be selected in cooperation with curators and conservators, who will also develop a history of their scent. The project manager is Tomasz Sawoszczuk, Ph.D., Professor at KUE.

funds awarded: PLN 2,448,540