A. Elena Charola is a Research Scientist at MCI and formerly a Scientific Advisor/Program Coordinator at the World Monuments Fund-Portugal. She received her Ph.D. from Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina. As an independent consultant she worked on a number of high-profile projects for World Monuments Fund: Consultant for the Easter Island Program; Coordinator of the Scientific Committee for the Exterior Conservation of the Torre de Belém, Lisbon, Portugal; Lecturer in Advanced Architectural Conservation, Graduate Program in Historic Preservation, University of Pennsylvania; Lecturer at the Raymond Lemaire International Centre for Conservation at the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium; Lecturer at the bi-annual UNESCO/ICCROM Stone Conservation Course in Venice. Dr. Charola has published two books and over a hundred scientific papers in the field of stone and masonry deterioration and conservation as well as editing co-editing the proceedings from four international conferences and three publications resulting from the conservation interventions carried out by World Monuments Fund. In addition, she has lectured extensively at various universities in North America, Europe, and Latin America. At MCI, she conducts research on the biodeterioration of stone surfaces and serves as Senior Editor on our Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press series, Contributions to Museum Conservation.
Publications
selected publications
article
Otero, Jorge and Charola, A. Elena. 2021. "Compatibilidad de Materiales: Velocidad de Transmision del Vapor de Agua." in Evaluación del Patrimonio Construido: Manual de Ensayos Preliminares, edited by Charola, A. Elena, Otero, Jorge, DePriest, Paula T., and Koestler, Robert J., 24-29. Smithsonian Scholarly Press.
2021
Otero, Jorge and Charola, A. Elena. 2021. "Examining Condition: Simple Microscopy." in Built Heritage Evaluation: Manual Using Simple Test Methods, edited by Charola, A. Elena, Otero, Jorge, DePriest, Paula T., and Koestler, Robert J., 1-7. Smithsonian Scholarly Press.
2021
DePriest, Paula T. and Charola, A. Elena. 2017. "Biological Colonization and "Ink Strokes" on Buildings." in Conservation of the Exterior of the National Museum of the American Indian Building, edited by Sledge, Jane, Charola, A. Elena, DePriest, Paula T., and Koestler, Robert J., 39-43. Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press.
2017
Charola, A. Elena and Koestler, Robert J. 2017. "The National Museum of the American Indian: An Introduction." in Conservation of the Exterior of the National Museum of the American Indian Building, edited by Sledge, Jane, Charola, A. Elena, DePriest, Paula T., and Koestler, Robert J., 1-4. Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press.
2017
Grissom, Carol A., Aloiz, E., Vicenzi, Edward P., Little, Nicole C., and Charola, A. Elena. 2016. "Characterization and Test Treatments of Cast-Stone Medallions at the Smithsonian." in Science and Art: A Future for Stone: Proceedings of the 13th International Congress on the Deterioration and Conservation of Stone, Volume 1, edited by Hughes, John and Howind, Torsten., 529-536. University of the West of Scotland.
2016
Charola, A. Elena and Koestler, Robert J. 2013. "Preface." in New Insights into the Cleaning of Paintings. Proceedings from the Cleaning 2010 International Conference Universidad Politécnica de Valencia and Museum Conservation Institute. Smithsonian Contributions to Museum Conservation, Number 3, edited by Mecklenburg, Marion F., Charola, A. Elena, and Koestler, Robert J., vii-viii. Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press.
2013
Charola, A. Elena, McNamara, Christopher, and Koestler, Robert J. 2011. "Discussions, Conclusions, and Recommendations." in Biocolonization of Stone: Control and Preventive Methods: Proceedings from the MCI Workshop Series, edited by Charola, A. Elena, McNamara, Christopher, and Koestler, Robert J., 113-115. Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.19492359.2.12011
Delgado Rodrigues, Jose, Vale Anjos, Marta, and Charola, A. Elena. 2011. "Recolonization of Marble Sculptures in a Garden Environment." in Biocolonization of Stone: Control and Preventive Methods: Proceedings from the MCI Workshop Series, edited by Charola, A. Elena, McNamara, Christopher, and Koestler, Robert J., 71-85. Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.19492359.2.12011
Charola, A. Elena. 2021. "Apendice: Bibliografia de Recursos Sugeridos y Otras Lecturas." in Evaluación del Patrimonio Construido: Manual de Ensayos Preliminares, edited by Charola, A. Elena, Otera, Jorge, DePriest, Paula T., and Koestler, Robert J., 40-45. Smithsonian Scholarly Press.
2021
Otero, Jorge and Charola, A. Elena. 2021. "Assessing Surface Cohesion: The Scotch Tape Test." in Built Heritage Evaluation: Manual Using Simple Test Methods, edited by Charola, A. Elena, Otero, Jorge, DePriest, Paula T., and Koestler, Robert J., 13-17 SN. Smithsonian Scholarly Press.
2021
Otero, Jorge and Charola, A. Elena. 2021. "Comparing Material Compatibility: The Water Vapor Transmission Test." in Built Heritage Evaluation: Manual Using Simple Test Methods, edited by Charola, A. Elena, Otero, Jorge, DePriest, Paula T., and Koestler, Robert J., 23-28. Smithsonian Scholarly Press.
2021
Otero, Jorge and Charola, A. Elena. 2021. "Evaluacion de la Cohesion de Superficies: Ensayos con Cinta Scotch." in Evaluación del Patrimonio Construido: Manual de Ensayos Preliminares, edited by Charola, A. Elena, Otero, Jorge, DePriest, Paula T., and Koestler, Robert J., 14-18. Smithsonian Scholarly Press.
2021
Otero, Jorge and Charola, A. Elena. 2021. "Examinando la Superficie: Microscopia Simple." in Evaluación del Patrimonio Construido: Manual de Ensayos Preliminares, edited by Charola, A. Elena, Otero, Jorge, DePriest, Paula T., and Koestler, Robert J., 1-7. Smithsonian Scholarly Press.
2021
Charola, A. Elena and Otero, Jorge. 2021. "Inspeccion del Deterioro Diferencial: Absorcion de Agua con el Tubo Rilem." in Evaluación del Patrimonio Construido: Manual de Ensayos Preliminares, edited by Charola, A. Elena, Otero, Jorge, DePriest, Paula T., and Koestler, Robert J., 19-23. Smithsonian Scholarly Press.
2021
Charola, A. Elena and Otero, Jorge. 2021. "Investigando Problemas de Sales: Tiras Reactivas para Determinar la Presencia de Iones." in Evaluación del Patrimonio Construido: Manual de Ensayos Preliminares, edited by Charola, A. Elena, Otero, Jorge, DePriest, Paula T., and Koestler, Robert J., 8-13 SN. Smithsonian Scholarly Press.
2021
Charola, A. Elena and Otero, Jorge. 2021. "Investigating Differential Weathering: The Rilem Tube Water Absorbtion Test." in Built Heritage Evaluation: Manual Using Simple Test Methods, edited by Charola, A. Elena, Otero, Jorge, DePriest, Paula T., and Koestler, Robert J., 18-22 SN. Smithsonian Scholarly Press.
2021
Charola, A. Elena and Otero, Jorge. 2021. "Investigating Salt Problems: Ion Test Strips." in Built Heritage Evaluation: Manual Using Simple Test Methods, edited by Charola, A. Elena, Otero, Jorge, DePriest, Paula T., and Koestler, Robert J., 8-12. Smithsonian Scholarly Press.
2021
Charola, A. Elena and Otero, Jorge. 2021. "Three Sequential Tests for Materials Evaluation: Capillary Water Absorption Coefficient, Total Immersion, and Evaporation Curves." in Built Heritage Evaluation: Manual Using Simple Test Methods, edited by Charola, A. Elena, Otero, Jorge, DePriest, Paula T., and Koestler, Robert J., 29-37. Smithsonian Scholarly Press.
2021
Charola, A. Elena and Otero, Jorge. 2021. "Tres Ensayos en Secuencia para Evaluar Materiales: Coeficiente de Absorcion Capilar de Agua, Inmersion Total y Curvas de Secado." in Evaluación del Patrimonio Construido: Manual de Ensayos Preliminares, edited by Charola, A. Elena, Otero, Jorge, DePriest, Paula T., and Koestler, Robert J., 30-39. Smithsonian Scholarly Press.
2021
Otero, Jorge, Charola, A. Elena, Grissom, Carol A., and Stranieri, Vincenzo. 2018. "An overview of nanolime as a consolidant for calcareous substrates." in YOCOCU 2016, The Fifth International Conference: Youth in Conservation of Cultural Heritage, Madrid, Spain, September 21-23, 2016, 262-264. Youth in Conservation of Cultural Heritage (YOCOCU).
2018
Koestler, Robert J., DePriest, Paula T., and Charola, A. Elena. 2017. "Future Maintenance Plan for the National Museum of the American Indian Building." in Conservation of the Exterior of the National Museum of the American Indian Building, edited by Sledge, Jane, Charola, A. Elena, DePriest, Paula T., and Koestler, Robert J., 59-61. Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press.
2017
Grissom, Carol A. and Charola, A. Elena. 2017. "Keeping the National Museum of the American Indian Building Clean." in Conservation of the Exterior of the National Museum of the American Indian Building, edited by Sledge, Jane, Charola, A. Elena, DePriest, Paula T., and Koestler, Robert J., 45-58. Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press.
2017
Sledge, Jane, Charola, A. Elena, DePriest, Paula T., and Koestler, Robert J. 2017. "Preface." in Conservation of the Exterior of the National Museum of the American Indian Building, v. Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.19492367.62017
Madden, Odile, Charola, A. Elena, and Koestler, Robert J. 2017. "Preface." in The Age of Plastic: Ingenuity and Responsibility, Proceedings of the 2012 MCI Symposium, edited by Madden, Odile, Charola, A. Elena, Cobb, Kim Cullen, DePriest, Paula T., and Koestler, Robert J., v-vi. Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press.
2017
Grissom, Carol A., Vicenzi, Edward P., Giaccai, Jennifer, Little, Nicole C., France, Christine A. M., Charola, A. Elena, and Livingston, Richard A. 2016. "Analysis and Treatment of the Fire-Damaged Marble Plaque from Thomas Jefferson's Grave Marker." in Science and Art: A Future for Stone: Proceedings of the 13th International Congress on the Deterioration and Conservation of Stone, Volume 2, edited by Hughes, John and Howind, Torsten., 1129-1136. University of the West of Scotland.
2016
DePriest, Paula T., Dietrich, Elizabeth, Madden, Odile, Sullivan, Elizabeth, and Charola, A. Elena. 2014. "Compounded Damage at the Museum Support Center: Hurricane Irene after the Earthquake." in Unexpected-Earthquake 2011: Lessons to Be Learned, edited by Charola, A. Elena, Wegener, Corine, and Koestler, Robert J., 85-96. Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press.
2014
Bechtol, Nancy, Tompkins, William, Button, Kerry, Hawks, Catharine A., and Charola, A. Elena. 2014. "Conclusions and Recommendations." in Unexpected-Earthquake 2011: Lessons to Be Learned, edited by Charola, A. Elena, Wegener, Corine, and Koestler, Robert J., 97-100. Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press.
2014
Charola, A. Elena, Wachowiak, Melvin J., Webb, E. K., Grissom, Carol A., Vicenzi, Edward P., Chong, Wang, Szczepanowska, Hanna, and DePriest, Paula T. 2014. "Developing a Methodology to Evaluate the Effectiveness of a Biocide." in 12th International Congress on the Deterioration and Conservation of Stone, Columbia University, New York, 2012, 1-10. ICOMOS-ISCS.
2014
Foreword.
Microclimate for Cultural Heritage: Conservation, Restoration, and Maintenance of Indoor and Outdoor Monuments.
xxi-xxii.
2014
Charola, A. Elena and Koestler, Robert J. 2014. "Preface and Acknowledgments." in Unexpected—Earthquake 2011: Lessons to Be Learned, edited by Charola, A. Elena, Wegener, Corine, and Koestler, Robert J., v-viii. Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press.
2014
Charola, A. Elena and Koestler, Robert J. 2010. "Introduction." in Pesticide mitigation in museum collections : science in conservation : proceedings from the MCI worshop series, v-vi. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.19492359.1.12010