Designing custom archival solutions for priceless artwork from the Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH) is just one of the Center for Civic Engagement’s (CCE) 2009 Fellows project initiatives. The CCE Fellows program, which kicked-off in early June, supports several substantive, high-quality undergraduate research and design projects that are faculty-supervised and conducted in collaboration with Houston-based community partners. This summer marks the third year for the CCE Fellows program that has grown since its inception – expanding both its multi-disciplinary research opportunities and community partnerships.

With nine undergraduate students participating in the program, and working in conjunction with faculty advisors and community partners, the CCE is focused on helping provide sustainable solutions that address an array of civic challenges. “This collaborative approach allows students to take what they learn in the classroom and apply that knowledge to help solve issues facing the Houston community,” said Stephanie Post, executive director, Center for Civic Engagement. “Not only do students have the opportunity to solve real world problems, they understand the impact they can make in their own backyard.”

In addition to the MFAH, program partners include Medical Bridges, the Menil Collection, Technology for All, St. Luke’s Episcopal Health Charities, and the Clear Lake City Water Authority. Each program initiative has its own unique focus from improving the wireless mesh network in under-resourced neighborhoods to researching the impact of inland rainfall and storm surge on coastal bayous. 

The MFAH research and design project, entitled, “Engineering Design for Art and Artifact Conservation” is co-sponsored by Rice’s School of Engineering and School of Humanities in conjunction with the CCE and is applying the engineering design process to help solve a need for custom archival solutions for priceless artwork from its permanent collection. Rice faculty advisors for the MFHA program are Dr. Maria Oden, Professor in the Practice of Engineering Education and Director of the Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen and Dr. Matthew Wettergreen. 

“Through this program, we expose students to course instruction and vigorous research methodology, and incorporate design work and other practical applications to better understand the civic issues and long-term needs of our community partner,” said Oden. “Gaining insight into the field of art conservation is a unique experience for our students as we examine the complexities of this challenge from an engineering, civic and business perspective.” 

The “Engineering Design for Art and Artifact Conservation” multi-disciplinary team, consisting of four undergraduate students, will study the storage needs of five selected priceless three-dimensional museum artifacts. Collectively, the team will work on developing an archival solution for the largest piece, La sordidez, created by Antonio Berni in 1964. Each team member will also serve as the project leader for one of the smaller pieces.  

“The multi-disciplinary nature of our team allows us to learn from each other and understand the design challenge from several different perspectives,” said Caleb Brown, team member and Rice bioengineering and visual and dramatic arts major. “Collaboration among team members, as well as the MFAH and other external organizations is providing us with a broad, practical learning experience and, it’s rewarding to know we are helping solve an important civic issue.”

Students from the “Engineering Design for Art and Artifact Conservation” program are also providing faculty advisors with feedback and input for a new course that addresses civic engagement from a multi-disciplinary approach to be offered during the next academic year. 

Visit the team’s web site at edaac.rice.edu  for a showcase of completed work along with regular updates. 

The CCE Fellows will present the results of their summer research programs in a professional forum on Tuesday, September 8, 2009 from 4:30 to 6:30 pm in Farnsworth Pavilion in the Rice University Student Center.