The  PreServe Laboratory (" Laboratory of Preventive and Interventive Conservation – Management of Cultural Heritage ") of the Department of Environment, School of Environment,  Ionian University, was established in 2025 (Government Gazette 4056/Issue B/30 July 2025)  as an institutional unit addressing teaching and research needs in the fields of conservation, preservation, and management of cultural heritage.

Its main areas of activity include the preventive and interventive conservation of antiquities and works of art, the recording and documentation of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, the study of environmental parameters affecting monuments, the development of new materials and technologies, green conservation practices, as well as education and public engagement through museum and cultural activities.

The Laboratory’s primary aim is to build a focused cluster of research, teaching and development activities that will enhance the visibility and outreach of the Ionian University, while attracting funding and highly qualified human resources. Specific objectives are to:

• integrate existing activities under a coherent identity;
• support emerging scientific and research fields;
• attract new researchers and specialised collaborators;
• strengthen outreach and collaborations with national and international institutions;
• disseminate and showcase the work of the Department of Environment and the Ionian University.