The First China-Europe Cultural Heritage Science Summer School (CECHSS 2025) took place from 18 to 27 August 2025, organised by the Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences together with partners from the UK, France, Italy and Spain. The programme brought together 37 postgraduate students and early-career professionals, including 21 from Europe and 16 from China.
The Summer School combined lectures, practical sessions and site visits. Morning courses addressed topics such as large science facilities-based heritage research, Chinese ceramics, novel methodologies in heritage science, sustainable conservation, and achievements in world cultural heritage science. Afternoon sessions involved hands-on training at research facilities and guided visits to major cultural sites, including the Palace Museum in Beijing and the Terracotta Warriors Museum in Xi’an.
IHEP also presented its advanced infrastructures relevant to heritage research, such as the China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS) and the High Energy Photon Source (HEPS), due to be commissioned this year. These facilities illustrate the increasing role of large-scale physics-based instruments in supporting heritage science.
The programme featured the Spain-China Dialogue on Science, Technology and Heritage: from Knowledge to Conservation, co-organised with the Embassy of Spain in Beijing. This bilateral roundtable focused on identifying common priorities and opportunities for scientific cooperation between the two countries in heritage conservation and research.
E-RIHS participation included the presence of Spanish partners and former PhD graduates now working at IHEP. In addition, five PhD students in heritage science were funded to attend the school, gaining exposure to international perspectives and technical training.
The organisers confirmed their intention to make CECHSS a recurring initiative, alternating annually between China and Europe. The long-term goal is to strengthen exchange between students, researchers and institutions in both regions and to contribute to the development of skills and knowledge in cultural heritage science.
