Dr Nikhil Joshi Appointed as Visiting Professor at Sapienza University of Rome

Dr Nikhil Joshi, a Senior Lecturer in Architecture and Associate Director for Graduate Programmes in Architectural Conservation at NUS, has been invited to serve as a Visiting Professor in the Department of Environmental Biology at Sapienza University of Rome. He is also the Principal Investigator of the NUS-Architectural Conservation Laboratory (ArCLab).

In this role, Dr Joshi will deliver a series of in-person lectures on Sustainable Built Heritage Conservation, covering topics such as ‘Materials and Materiality in Conservation,’ ‘Rethinking Conservation,’ and ‘Integrating Science, Humanities, and Art.’ His research will also focus on the chemistry of traditional building materials, emphasising authenticity and interpretation in historic Roman cities.

Expressing his enthusiasm, Dr Joshi stated, “This is an excellent opportunity to establish a collaboration between the two institutions while also allowing me to study advanced diagnostic methods and new materials for restoration and conservation in Rome’s heritage sites. Any intervention that does not fully consider a building’s historical layers and patina can significantly impact its authenticity and interpretation. It is a great honour to experience this in such an ancient city.”

Dr Joshi’s appointment highlights his extensive research in architecture, materials, and craftsmanship. At NUS-ArCLab, his ongoing work focuses on using traditional materials and craftsmanship to conserve buildings, including transforming one into Singapore’s first net-zero historic building. Founded in 1303, Sapienza University of Rome is Italy’s largest university and a leading research institution in engineering, natural sciences, biomedical sciences, and humanities. The university has produced distinguished alums, including 10 Nobel laureates, Italian prime ministers, a pope, European Parliament presidents, and astronauts.