Horizons

New conservation methods: Recent scientific advances are proving beneficial to conservationists of paintings and archaeological treasures.

In particular, technological developments in microelectronics and fibre optics have led to innovative, non-destructive techniques to measure the original use of types of pigments and metal powders before conservation work begins. On Friday, Prof Antonio Sgamellotti of the University of Perugia, Italy, will describe some of these techniques in a talk, entitled Molecular Science and Cultural Heritage. He will discuss an extensive study on the conservation of Michelangelo's David and will also speak about the European project, EU-ARTECH (www.eu-artech.org) which gives conservationists access to the latest scientific methodologies applied to archaeology and art. His talk is in the Royal Irish Academy, 19 Dawson Street on Friday at 6pm. Tel: 01-6762570 or e-mail sgamellotti@ria.ie to reserve a place.

Happy in your nappy?

A group of parents keen to campaign on environmental consumer issues have formed a new Women's Environmental Network (WEN). Their first campaign will highlight the benefits of cloth nappies during Real Nappy Week next month. It is estimated that one baby uses more than 5,000 nappies from birth to potty, costing about €1,200 (not including the cost of disposing of these nappies). Nicola Whelan, parent of two children under three, uses cloth nappies. She says: "We want parents to know that they are easy, fun and cute and so much more user-friendly than they used to be." In Britain, Real Nappy Week is promoted by the long-established UK Women's Environmental Network (see www.wen.org.uk) and some local councils help families finance the initial purchase of cloth nappies. The first meeting of the new Women's Environmental Network takes place upstairs in the Penny Hill pub in Lucan, Co Dublin, on Monday at 8.30pm. For more details, tel: 086-8228254.

What rot - not

Fingal County Council is encouraging all householders with gardens to start composting organic waste this spring. A series of free composting clinics will be held in April to help get people started. Find out all about the dos and don'ts of composting at Swords Library on Monday, April 3 at 7pm (tel: 01-8404179), Balbriggan Library on Tuesday, April 4 at 7pm (tel:01-8411128), Blanchardstown Library on Monday, April 10 at 7pm (tel: 01-8905560) and Baldoyle Library on Tuesday, April 11 at 7pm (tel: 01-8906793). Further workshops will be held in May.

To book, contact the libraries directly. For more details, tel: 01-8906719 or e-mail envserv@fingalcoco.ie.

Rubbish art

A group of art students at Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT) is exhibiting artworks with an environmental theme on Thursday between 1pm and 7pm.

The aim of the exhibition, entitled A Load of Rubbish is to create artistic awareness of the growing importance of recycling in society today. The exhibition takes place in the Trevor Scott Hall at IADT. Admission is free.