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Matija Strlič

From EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki


Matija Strlič (born 1968) is a Slovenian analytical chemist and heritage scientist. He is Professor of Analytical Chemistry at the University of Ljubljana and Honorary Professor of Heritage Science at University College London (UCL).[1][2]

File:Strlic matija dr-foto-uros hocevar-kolektiffimages UH26652.jpg
Prof Dr Matija Strlič

His research focuses on the application of scientific methods to cultural heritage, including studies of degradation of historic paper and other heritage materials, effects of the environment and climate on collections, heritage values and the study of historical odours.[1][3]

Strlič was Deputy Director of UCL Institute for Sustainable Heritage until 2019[4] and served as a Senior Research Fellow at the Smithsonian Institution's Museum Conservation Institute between 2020 and 2022.[5]

He heads the Centre of Excellence in Green Heritage Science[6], an interinstitutional Centre established in Slovenia and funded by the European Commission through the Teaming instrument of the Widening programme.[7]

Strlič has been included in the Stanford–Elsevier list of the world's top 2% of scientists,[8] and his Scopus author profile records more than 190 publications.[9]

Education and Career

Strlič studied chemistry at the University of Ljubljana and received a PhD in chemistry from the university in 2000.[10]

He joined University College London in 2007 and worked in the field of heritage science at UCL's Institute for Sustainable Heritage.

At the University of Ljubljana, Strlič is Professor of Analytical Chemistry and leads the Heritage Science Laboratory Ljubljana.[1]

He is also member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts[11] and is Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and the International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works.

Awards

In 2002, Strlič received the Zois award for outstanding scientific contributions in chemistry,[12] and in 2015, he received the Ambassador of Science of the Republic of Slovenia Award.[13]

In 2026, Strlič received the Research Collaboration Index Arts & Humanities Subject Award in recognition of his highly collaborative and cross-disciplinary research.[14]

Teaching

In 2010, Strlič was course director of UCL's newly established MRes programme in Heritage Science.[15]

Strlič was a co-investigator on the Science and Engineering in Arts, Heritage and Archaeology (SEAHA) Centre for Doctoral Training, an EPSRC-funded centre established at University College London in partnership with the University of Oxford and the University of Brighton.[16] He was also a member of the SEAHA Steering Committee.[17] The programme provided interdisciplinary doctoral training in heritage science, bringing together the physical sciences, engineering, computing and humanities with research into cultural heritage. SEAHA operated from 2014 to 2022 and supported 60 interdisciplinary MRes and PhD students through projects developed with academic, heritage and industry partners.[17]

At the University of Ljubljana, Strlič is listed among the teaching staff of the Chair of Analytical Chemistry[18], where he has taught courses in Analytical chemistry (since 1997) and Natural sciences for conservators (since 2019). He also taught on the MSc in Conservation for Archaeology and Museums at UCL Institute of Archaeology (2008-2019).[19]

Research

Strlič's research combines scientific research methods with the study and conservation of cultural heritage. His work has included research into the degradation of paper and other heritage materials, the use of spectroscopy and other analytical methods in heritage science, and the study of volatile compounds released by ageing objects.[1][3]

Heritage Collections and Preventive Conservation

Strlič has led and participated in research on the condition and preservation of heritage collections. He was principal investigator of the Collections Demography project, which applied statistical approaches to the study of changing populations of heritage objects and was funded through the UK's Science and Heritage Programme.[20]

The Collections Demography project resulted in the development of concepts such as isochrone and demography plots used as collections management tools to aid in the interpretation of environmental guidance such as PAS 198:2012, in the development of which Strlič served as a member of the working group.[21]

Further work resulted in the development of damage functions for a variety of vulnerable heritage materials: colour photographic prints[22], paper[23], PVC[24] and silk.[25]

Heritage Values

Strlič has also researched how cultural heritage values are understood and incorporated into collections management. Quantitative work involved the use of exploratory factor analysis to examine views of the value of archival and library[26] and mineral collections.[27] This approach provided a means of systematically analysing perceived heritage values rather than treating them solely as qualitative or contextual concepts. More recently, Strlič co-authored a cross-disciplinary synthesis of approaches to cultural heritage valuation, examining how different disciplinary perspectives conceptualise heritage value and heritage-derived impacts and arguing for a systemic approach to heritage management.[28]

Olfactory Heritage

Strlič was the lead scientist on research published in Analytical Chemistry in 2009 that examined volatile organic compounds released by ageing paper. The research investigated whether these compounds could be used as indicators of deterioration and potentially provide a non-destructive method for assessing the condition of historical books and paper.[29]

He subsequently worked with Cecilia Bembibre on research into the identification, analysis and documentation of historical odours. Their 2017 paper, published in Heritage Science, proposed a framework for the study and archival of historic smells and included the development of a historic book odour wheel.[30]

In 2025, Strlič coordinated research into the odours emitted by ancient Egyptian mummies at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. The research analysed volatile compounds associated with nine mummified bodies and investigated the potential of odour analysis as a non-destructive tool for conservation research.[31]

Research Infrastructures

Strlič also participated in projects related to the development of heritage science research infrastructure, including work associated with the European Research Infrastructure for Heritage Science (E-RIHS)[32] as part of which he contributed to the development of the Heritage Science Academy[33] - a platform for training and engagement.

He chairs the Steering Committee of the Slovenian node of E-RIHS ERIC.[34] and has served as Permanent Expert on the European Strategy Board for Research Infrastructures since 2024.[35]

He has also co-authored taxonomic research on the genus Pelargonium, including descriptions of four new species from South Africa.[36][37]

Science Communication and Public Engagement

Strlič has been active in science communication and public engagement, particularly in communicating heritage science to non-specialist audiences. His activities have included public lectures, interviews, television and radio programmes, and presentations aimed at audiences outside the scientific community. In 2012 he gave a UCL Lunch Hour Lecture at the British Museum on the chemistry of paper and the smell of old books.[38] His research on the chemical analysis of historic book smells and the preservation of olfactory heritage subsequently received international media coverage, including reporting by The Guardian, BBC News, Smithsonian and other international media outlets.[39] He has continued to communicate heritage science through interviews, public lectures and broadcast programmes. In 2023 he was interviewed by the Royal Society of Chemistry's Chemistry World about research into historical smells,[40] while in Slovenia he has participated in national television and cultural programmes presenting research on the scientific analysis and preservation of heritage materials and historic smells.[41]

His 2025 Journal of the American Chemical Society paper[31] attracted substantial international public attention. According to Altmetric, by 8 August 2026 the paper had received a score of 2,368, and was the highest-ranked Journal of the American Chemical Society output tracked by Altmetric.[42]

The research was independently covered by Smithsonian Magazine, which quoted him on the potential of odour analysis to provide information about preservation and conservation, [43] and by The Guardian, which reported on the use of chemical and sensory analysis to study the preservation of mummified remains.[44]

Selected publications

  • Strlič, Matija (2018). "Heritage Science: A Future-Oriented Cross-Disciplinary Field". Angewandte Chemie International Edition. 57 (25): 7260–7261. Bibcode:2018ACIE...57.7260S. doi:10.1002/anie.201804246. PMID 29737009.
  • Coppola, F.; Frigau, L.; Markelj, J.; Malešič, J.; Conversano, C.; Strlič, M. (2023). "Near-Infrared Spectroscopy and Machine Learning for Accurate Dating of Historical Books". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 145: 12305–12314. doi:10.1021/jacs.3c02835.
  • Strlič, Matija; Thickett, David; Taylor, Joel; Cassar, May (2013). "Damage functions in heritage science". Studies in Conservation. 58 (2): 80–87. doi:10.1179/2047058412Y.0000000073.
  • Bembibre, Cecilia; Strlič, Matija (2017). "Smell of heritage: a framework for the identification, analysis and archival of historic odours". Heritage Science. 5. doi:10.1186/s40494-016-0114-1. Unknown parameter |article-number= ignored (help)

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "About Us". Heritage Science Laboratory Ljubljana, University of Ljubljana. Retrieved 16 September 2026.
  2. ↑ "People at the Institute for Sustainable Heritage". University College London. Retrieved 16 September 2026.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Notman, Nina (16 January 2023). "The smell of history". Chemistry World. Retrieved 16 September 2026.
  4. ↑ "Matija Strlic – About". University College London. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
  5. ↑ "Good pollution: Smells in museums". Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  6. ↑ GreenHer CoE, "About us", University of Ljubljana. Accessed 19 September 2026.
  7. ↑ European Commission, "GreenHer Centre of Excellence: Green Heritage Science", CORDIS, grant agreement No. 101136457, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Top 2% Scientists". TOPSCINET. Retrieved 21 September 2026.
  9. ↑ "Author details: Strlic, Matija". Scopus. Retrieved 21 September 2026.
  10. ↑ "Prof Matija Strlic". University College London. Retrieved 16 September 2026.
  11. ↑ European Academy of Sciences and Arts, "New Members Elected by the Senate", 2024.
  12. ↑ "Nagrade in priznanja za izjemne dosežke v znanstveno-raziskovalni in razvojni dejavnosti – 2002". Ministrstvo za šolstvo, znanost in šport (in slovenščina). Retrieved 19 September 2026.
  13. ↑ "Nagrade in priznanja za izjemne dosežke v znanstveno-raziskovalni in razvojni dejavnosti – 2015". Ministrstvo za izobraževanje, znanost in šport (in slovenščina). Retrieved 19 September 2026.
  14. ↑ "Arts & Humanities Subject Award". Research Collaboration Index. Retrieved 4 October 2026.
  15. ↑ "New Masters in Heritage Science at UCL Centre for Sustainable Heritage". Conservation DistList. 4 March 2010. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
  16. ↑ Terras, Melissa (22 November 2013). "Announcing SEAHA – Centre for Doctoral Training in Science and Engineering in Arts, Heritage and Archaeology". UCL Digital Humanities. University College London. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 2nd International SEAHA Conference: Book of Abstracts (PDF). Oxford, UK: University College London. 20–21 June 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
  18. ↑ "Chair of Analytical Chemistry". University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
  19. ↑ "Matija Strlic – Teaching". University College London. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
  20. ↑ "Collections Demography – On Dynamic Evolution of Populations of Objects". University College London. Retrieved 16 September 2026.
  21. ↑ British Standards Institution (2012). PAS 198:2012 — Specification for managing environmental conditions for cultural collections. BSI Standards Limited, London. ISBN 978-0-580-71315-6.
  22. ↑ Fenech, Ann; Fearn, Tom; Strlič, Matija (2012). "Use of Design-of-Experiment principles to develop a dose-response function for colour photographs". Polymer Degradation and Stability. UCL Discovery. 97 (4): 621–625. doi:10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2012.01.012.
  23. ↑ Strlič, Matija; Grossi, Carlota M.; Dillon, Catherine; Bell, Nancy; Fouseki, Kalliopi; Brimblecombe, Peter; Menart, Eva; Ntanos, Kostas; Lindsay, William; Thickett, David; France, Fenella; De Bruin, Gerrit (23 December 2015). "Damage function for historic paper. Part III: Isochrones and demography of collections". Heritage Science. 3 (1): 40. doi:10.1186/s40494-015-0069-7.CS1 maint: Date and year (link)
  24. ↑ Rijavec, Tjaša; Strlič, Matija; Kralj Cigić, Irena (2023). "Damage function for poly(vinyl chloride) in heritage collections". Polymer Degradation and Stability. Elsevier. 211. doi:10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2023.110329. Unknown parameter |article-number= ignored (help)
  25. ↑ Elrefaey, Ibrahim; Mahgoub, Hend; Garside, Paul; Ortega Saez, Natalia; Strlič, Matija (6 June 2026). "Damage function for silk fabric". npj Heritage Science. Springer Nature. 14. doi:10.1038/s40494-026-02710-5. Unknown parameter |article-number= ignored (help)CS1 maint: Date and year (link)
  26. ↑ Dillon, Catherine; Lindsay, William; Taylor, Joel; Fouseki, Kalliopi; Bell, Nancy; Strlic, Matija (2013). "Collections demography: stakeholders' views on the lifetime of collections". In Ashley-Smith, Jonathan; Burmester, Andreas; Eibl, Melanie. Climate for Collections: Standards and Uncertainties. London: Archetype Publications. pp. 45–58. Search this book on
  27. ↑ Robb, Michael; Dillon; Rumsey; Strlic, Matija (2013). "Quantitative Assessment of Perceived Value of Geological Collections by 'Experts' for Improved Collections Management". The Geological Curator. 9 (10): 529–543. doi:10.55468/GC53.
  28. ↑ Anžur, Lana Nastja; Ponikvar, Nina; Strlič, Matija; Seetah, Krish (2026). "Valuing Cultural Heritage Across Disciplines: A Critical Synthesis for Systemic and Sustainable Heritage Management". In Ripp, Matthias; Majumdar, Sushobhan; Cave, Claire. Cultural Heritage Re-imagined: A Systemic Approach to Theory, Practice, and Management. Springer Nature Switzerland. pp. 59–86. doi:10.1007/978-3-032-23530-5_3. Search this book on
  29. ↑ Strlič, Matija; Thomas, Jacob; Trafela, Tanja; Cséfalvayová, Linda; Kralj Cigić, Irena; Kolar, Jana; Cassar, May (2009). "Material Degradomics: On the Smell of Old Books". Analytical Chemistry. 81 (20): 8617–8622. Bibcode:2009AnaCh..81.8617S. doi:10.1021/ac9016049. PMID 19761214.
  30. ↑ Bembibre, Cecilia; Strlič, Matija (2017). "Smell of heritage: a framework for the identification, analysis and archival of historic odours". Heritage Science. 5 (1): 2. doi:10.1186/s40494-016-0114-1.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Paolin, Emma; Bembibre, Cecilia; Di Gianvincenzo, Fabiana; Torres-Elguera, Julio Cesar; Deraz, Randa; Kraševec, Ida; Abdellah, Ahmed; Ahmed, Asmaa; Kralj Cigić, Irena; Elnaggar, Abdelrazek; Abdelhalim, Ali; Sawoszczuk, Tomasz; Strlič, Matija (2025). "Ancient Egyptian Mummified Bodies: Cross-Disciplinary Analysis of Their Smell". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 147 (8): 6633–6643. Bibcode:2025JAChS.147.6633P. doi:10.1021/jacs.4c15769. PMC 11869298 Check |pmc= value (help). PMID 39947222 Check |pmid= value (help).
  32. ↑ Virgili, Vania; Strlic, Matija (2024). Revised E-RIHS Business Plan (Report). E-RIHS IP. doi:10.5281/zenodo.14620279. D4.3.
  33. ↑ Strlic, Matija; Buchczky, Magdalena; Heritage, Alison; Liang, Haida; Ropret, Polonca; Vopálenský, Michal (2020). E-RIHS PP D7.2 E-RIHS Training strategy (Report). doi:10.5281/zenodo.3949504.
  34. ↑ E-RIHS.SI, "E-RIHS.SI: Slovenian Node of the European Research Infrastructure for Heritage Science", E-RIHS.SI.
  35. ↑ "Current ESFRI Membership" (PDF). European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI). Retrieved 19 September 2026.
  36. ↑ Manning, John C.; Strlič, Matija (2024). "Pelargonium elizabethiae and P. geophyllum, two new species in section Hoarea (Geraniaceae) from the Greater Cape Floristic Region, South Africa". South African Journal of Botany. 167: 301–309. Bibcode:2024SAJB..167..301M. doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2024.02.016.
  37. ↑ Strlič, Matija; van der Walt, Johannes Adriaan; Manning, John Charles (2025). "Two new species of Pelargonium sect. Hoarea (Geraniaceae) from the Core Cape Floristic Region, South Africa: P. saronense and P. centrifugum". South African Journal of Botany. 186: 323–328. Bibcode:2025SAJB..186..323S. doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2025.09.014.
  38. ↑ "Lunch Hour Lectures on Tour: A book by any other name would smell as sweet". UCL Events. University College London. 28 June 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2026.
  39. ↑ "Student Cecilia Bembibre smell of heritage research in the media". UCL Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment. University College London. 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2026.
  40. ↑ "The smell of history". Chemistry World. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2026.
  41. ↑ "HSLL on National Television". Heritage Science Laboratory Ljubljana. University of Ljubljana. 21 November 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2026.
  42. ↑ "Ancient Egyptian Mummified Bodies: Cross-Disciplinary Analysis of Their Smell". Altmetric. Retrieved 16 September 2026.
  43. ↑ Everts, Sarah (13 February 2025). "Discover the Aromas of Ancient Egyptian Mummies, From Orange Peels to Pine to Incense". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 16 September 2026.
  44. ↑ "Smell like an Egyptian: researchers sniff ancient mummies to study preservation". The Guardian. 14 February 2025. Retrieved 16 September 2026.



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