On 26 February, ICOM Conservation, in collaboration with ICOM Myanmar, convened a hybrid roundtable to follow-up on the severe damage caused by the March 2025 earthquake.
This roundtable was logistically and technically supported by the ICOM Heritage Protection Department. Hosted at the National Museum (Nay Pyi Taw), which was also significantly affected by the earthquake, the session brought together international conservation specialists to support colleagues working to stabilise and recover damaged buildings and collections.
Opening remarks were delivered by Oo Lwin Kyaw, Chair of ICOM Myanmar, and Sophie Delepierre, Head of the ICOM Heritage Protection Department. Aye Aye Thinn, Director of the National Museum and Secretary of ICOM Myanmar, provided an overview of the earthquake’s impact, which caused damage to objects in a range of materials such as sandstone, marble, earthenware, and wood. The earthquake also had a serious effect on several buildings. The event was moderated by Kate Seymour (Chair, ICOM Conservation) and Polytimi Loukopoulou (ICOM Conservation Glass and Ceramics Working Group).
Following the earthquake, which was one of the deadliest in Myanmar’s history, the Heritage Protection Department quickly contacted ICOM Myanmar to assess the needs of museums and their professionals. In response to requests for expert conservation advice, ICOM Conservation proposed this collaborative initiative to support the ongoing recovery efforts by museum professionals and conservators in Myanmar, on a timeline agreed by all partners following a needs assessment.
Expert Presentations
In advance of the live event, three expert panellists provided extended pre-recorded presentations, which were made available to registered participants in advance. The same experts then gave summaries of their presentations during the live event.
Johanna Theile, Professor, University of Chile and Former Vice-Chair and Directory Board Member, ICOM Conservation, drew on Chile’s extensive seismic history to outline a strategic framework for protecting cultural heritage. She underlined that because earthquakes are unpredictable, preparedness protocols must be regularly updated and be a part of daily museum work.
Maria Papadimitriou, Lead Preventive & Archaeological Conservator MSc, FIIC and Freelance Heritage Consultant, introduced a structured three-phase workflow designed to guide institutions from the immediate post-disaster context toward sustainable recovery. Her approach prioritises human safety above all, followed by systematic stabilisation, documentation, and phased conservation planning.
Mohamed Moustafa, ICOM Conservation Coordinator and The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), focused on the vulnerabilities of wooden artefacts. Describing wood as a “dynamic” material, he highlighted the mechanical complexity of joints, grain orientation, and composite structures, and stressed the need for specialised assessment and stabilisation methodologies to enhance earthquake resilience.
Conservator Shayne Rivers also joined the discussion and answered questions from the audience.
Knowledge Exchange and Collaboration
The live session allowed for a deeper discussion on conservation materials and methodologies, emergency preparedness and response, and risk and damage assessment methodologies.
The roundtable reaffirmed the essential role of interdisciplinary and international collaboration in responding to emergencies. By sharing global expertise and practical methodologies, the event supported informed local decision-making and contributed to strengthening earthquake resilience across the museum sector.
As recovery efforts continue, the discussions initiated during this roundtable will help guide both immediate interventions and future preparedness strategies, ensuring that cultural heritage remains protected, even in the face of unpredictable seismic events.