The National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT) will continue its highly successful training on the conservation of monuments commonly found in cemeteries with a new workshop focused on the conservation challenges of the New England region. The workshop will be held Oct. 7-9 in New London, Conn.

The eighth annual Preservation in Your Community event was held July 31 at Lee H. Nelson Hall, Natchitoches, La.

Historic Congressional Cemetery’s Arsenal and Macombe Monuments have been the focus of NCPTT’s recent research into cleaning technologies for grave markers.

NCPTT recently recorded its first podcast. In it, conservator Jason Church talks about NCPTT’s cemetery monument conservation initiative and about his experiences growing up that led him to the field of cemetery conservation.

In response to the recent flooding in the Midwest and fires in California, NCPTT’s Sean Clifford and Mary Striegel continue to update the NCPTT web pages on disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.

NCPTT’s Curtis Deselles, a graduate student in the Masters of Heritage Resources program at Northwestern State University of Louisiana, is developing a handheld metal tester using eddy current technology.

NCPTT and the City of New London will deliver the sixth annual New England Cemetery Monument Conservation workshop on October 7-9, 2008, in New London, Conn.

NCPTT is developing better strategies for the removal of graffiti from brick masonry buildings.

Molly McGath, NCPTT summer intern, is studying interactions between air pollution and limestone treated with commonly used chemical stone strengtheners.

The 2009 PTT Grants program seeks innovative projects that advance the application of science and technology to historic preservation.

More than $165,000 will fund research to protect America’s historic legacy as part of the National Center for Preservation Technology & Training’s PTT Grants program.

The National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT) and Northwestern State University seek a Ph.D. analytical, organic, or physical chemist to fill a joint-faculty position for two years, with an option for annual renewal pending availability of funds.

Dr. Judy Bense, Chair of the Preservation Technology and Training board at NCPTT, has been recommended to serve as the interim President of the University of West Florida.

NCPTT will hold its first Cemetery Landscape Preservation Workshop on Sept. 16-17, 2008, in Natchitoches, Louisiana.

Anna Johnson, a high-school junior at the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts, took NCPTT research to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, Atlanta, Ga. on May 11-16.

Christine Faith of NCPTT will host a Tel-Net course on the role of National Park Service interpretation in Heritage Education on July 16, 2008, at 1 p.m., EDT.

Stace Miller, a longtime undergraduate intern at NCPTT, received a B.S. in chemistry and an B.S. in Math from Northwestern State University of Louisiana on May 9.

NCPTT and the Department of Veteran Affairs, National Cemetery Administration has released the interim report entitled, Comparative Study of Commercially Available Cleaners for use on Federally-issued Headstones.

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art recently provided a portable laser system to NCPTT as part of the National Center’s laser research facility.

Sarah Jackson and Andy Ferrell visited the Magnolia unit of Cane River Creole National Historic Park to investigate possibly using the slave/tenant farmer cabins at Magnolia Plantation for a limewash training workshop and video production.