Forecasting effects of changing weather

The effect of climate change on historic sites will be among the issues debated at an international heritage conference at Stirling University.

Preserving Scotland’s iconic attractions, such as Edinburgh Castle and Skara Brae, in the face of unpredictable weather patterns will feature in the discussion topics at the inaugural Global Challenges in Cultural Heritage Conference on September 1-2.

The conference will celebrate the recentlyformed partnership between the university, The Palace Museum in Beijing and Historic Environment Scotland (HES).

Professor Richard Oram, dean of the university’s faculty of arts and humanities, said: “Cultural heritage faces many challenges, many of which are replicated across the world.

“While local circumstances may vary, there are opportunities to share knowledge and experiences and to collaborate in finding solutions to these global problems.

“It is particularly fitting that the inaugural conference is being hosted here in the Stirling area, a pivotal location in Scotland’s past and itself a prominent historical site.”

Experts presenting at the conference include HES’s Ewan Hyslop, who will discuss climate change impacts on cultural heritage.

Meredith Wiggins of Historic England and HES’s David Harkin will present on the conservation challenges and opportunities raised by unpredictable weather patterns across the globe.

Katie Mills of the University of Manchester will discuss the impact of weather conditions on prehistoric rock art, medieval ruins and sculptured stones.