Three-part webinar series: Introduction to Thermodynamics of Collection Environments and Why Thermodynamics Matter in Cultural Heritage
When: October 8, October 22, November 5, 2026
Time: 1:00-2:00pm ET
Cost: $225 for three sessions, 1 hour each
Presenter: Marvin Cummings
Audience: This webinar series is aimed at preservation professionals who would like to develop a foundational understanding of the thermodynamic principles, such as heat, energy and temperature, that govern what happens in storage and display environments and why these phenomena actually matter. Upon completion of this webinar series, museum, archive and library professionals will understand the key physical concepts governing indoor collections environments and will be equipped with important knowledge that will help inform environmental management decisions in collaboration with facilities staff.
Webinar details: Preservation professionals are well aware of the inverse relationship between temperature and relative humidity – if the temperature of a collection space rises, the humidity generally decreases - and the reason this relationship exists can be tied to thermodynamic phenomena. Many of the very same principles of thermodynamics that drive local climate and weather, apply directly to indoor collection environments.
Part I: The Indoor Environment: Air and Water
This webinar will: 1) discuss the three important properties that define the state of the indoor environment within collection spaces, namely temperature, pressure, and relative humidity (RH); and 2) introduce terms such as the saturation vapor pressure of water and saturation mixing ratio; and 3) discuss how these terms help define the relative humidity of a collection space. Upon completion of this webinar, attendees will be able to define these important properties and understand why there is ordinarily an inverse relationship between temperature and relative humidity in indoor climates.
Part II: Indoor Heat Gain and Loss
This webinar will: discuss 1) what is the thermodynamic dewpoint temperature (Tdp), why it is important and what the Tdp can tell us about a collection space; 2) the heat energy of indoor spaces, known by HVAC engineers as thermodynamic enthalpy, and establish its relation to the heat capacity of water and air; and 3) define the important difference between sensible heat and latent heat. Upon completion of this webinar, preservation professionals will understand the fundamental concepts of heat energy in a collections space.
Part III: Practical Concepts of Heat Gain and Loss and the Psychrometric Chart
This webinar will: 1) discuss practical examples of what the important indoor parameters- such as temperature, pressure, and RH, can tell preservation professionals about their display and storage spaces; and 2) explain how to use the psychrometric chart as a tool in understanding what is happening in collection spaces. Upon completion of this webinar, museum, archive and library professionals will be able to use simple indoor measurement parameters, such as temperature and RH, to estimate the heat gain and heat loss in a space, make informed environmental management decisions, and build competencies that support discussions on future sustainability and cost reduction efforts at their respective institutions.
