“What I really want the students to do is assess the situation, to really figure out which objects are most at risk and which can probably sit in the water for a while without becoming more damaged than they already are,” Wickens said. But, in a traditional, in-person class, this is challenging. “As soon as a conservator sees something that is wet, there is this need and desire to get it out of the water right away. It is difficult to get them to take more than a minute or two to really talk things through.”
But during the pandemic, Wickens has conducted this exercise over Zoom. Her co-teacher, affiliated assistant professor William Donnelly, was in his kitchen with the tub of wet objects, while the students tuned in from their respective kitchens and bedrooms. Donnelly pretended to be someone without conservation expertise who needed help figuring out a plan of action. And the students, connecting in this virtual manner, took the time to flesh out this plan before having Donnelly dive in.
“They had no choice but to talk to one another,” Wickens said. “I’m pretty sure even when we’re back on site, I’m going to continue doing the exercise in this way.”
This isn’t to say the restrictions of COVID-19 have been easy. The professors attest long Zoom sessions can feel more formal and disconnected than in-person instruction, which is why they choose to humanize their courses by building in time for discussions that have nothing to do with curriculum — about, say, household pets who wander across the screen.
“We take our work very seriously, but it’s nice to allow for those moments of joy or lightheartedness in the day,” said Mina, the owner of a particularly fluffy cat who is part Maine Coon. “It helps you feel more connected to one another, even when we can’t physically be together.”
And when things feel too tough even for a cute kitten or puppy to rectify? The professors and students say their Blue Hen values of resilience and adaptability see them through. As does dedication to the mission that remains at the heart of all conservation work — even, or perhaps especially, during a pandemic.
“Artifacts bring us together,” Owczarek said. “They show us who we are as people. They help us feel connected to our history and our present, and they can shape the direction we go in our future. Taking care of them inspires us to be our best selves.”
The full UDaily article is available here.