News Archive

Ian Godfrey
Senior Curator and Head of Department of Materials Conservation, Western Australian Museum
BSc (Honours), PhD, UWA; DipEd, Secondary Teachers’ College

My first job after graduating from UWA was as a high school teacher. Following this, I lectured in science and science education at the WA College of Advanced Education before joining the Western Australian Museum, initially as Curator of the Organic Materials Conservation.

My current responsibilities are primarily administrative but I still have time to carry out research on the analysis and conservation of waterlogged organic materials and the conservation of historic Antarctic buildings.

The combination of a chemistry and diving background was an excellent one that led me to my current museum career.

My work in the shipwrecks has given me the opportunity to travel and work in Sri Lanka, Sweden and South Korea.

Initial research experiences on the use of the Antarctic environment to naturally freeze-dry waterlogged wood led to my involvement in the conservation of Mawson’s Huts in the Australian Antarctic Territory. I have travelled to the Antarctic 11 times, twice as a Field Leader to Mawson’s Huts.