The Metropolitan Museum houses a world-renowned complex of scientific research and conservation facilities, each of which serves as a training ground for conservators from around the world. Three major conservation areas—Objects Conservation, Paintings Conservation, and Works on Paper/Photography Conservation—are supported by and named for the Sherman Fairchild Foundation. In addition, the Museum maintains specialized studios for Asian art, costume, and book conservation.
The Department of Scientific Research, a core group of scientists who collaborate with curators and conservators throughout the Museum, is responsible for investigating the material aspects of works of art in the Museum's collections. Scientists in the department cooperate with conservators and curators in studying, preserving, and conserving works, and also pursue innovative research in analytical techniques, preventive conservation, and treatment methodologies.
