Head of the Conservation and Preparation Area
(Barcelona, 1982)
Background and Education
Xènia Aymerich is a conservator-restorer specialized in natural science collections, with a professional career of over fifteen years linked to the Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont (ICP). Since 2016, she has served as Head of the Conservation and Preparation Area, where she coordinates the team to ensure the preservation and enhancement of paleontological heritage.
She holds a degree in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage from the Escola Superior de Conservació i Restauració de Béns Culturals de Catalunya (ESCRBCC), specializing in archaeological materials. Since 2005, she has worked in the technical field of natural science collection conservation. Over the years, she has deepened her expertise in paleontological preparation, continually expanding her knowledge through projects, training, and professional exchanges.
Experience at the ICP
Since joining the ICP, she has worked closely with various research groups, collaborating on the preparation and conservation of fossil specimens and helping to consolidate the centre’s technical area. This work has been possible thanks to teamwork with her colleagues, sharing the goal of delivering a high-quality technical service and adapting to the specific needs of each project. Her career has been marked by an openness to learning and continuous improvement, reflected in her regular participation in conferences, seminars, and specialist courses in areas such as preventive conservation, heritage digitisation, natural science collections, and team management.
Main Roles and Responsibilities
As head of the area, she coordinates and participates in the conservation and preparation of specimens, as well as the planning and execution of exhibition mounts and custom packaging. She also manages the preparation of samples for advanced analyses (stable isotopes, palaeoproteomics, etc.), the production of replicas, the definition and updating of internal protocols, and the sourcing of resources for technical and training projects. Her daily work is based on collaborative team management, grounded in trust, communication, and shared responsibility. She also mentors student interns, supervises academic work, and supports volunteers who collaborate with the department.
Teaching and Training
In parallel, she maintains an ongoing teaching activity. She is an affiliated lecturer at the Faculty of Biosciences at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and has contributed to various university master’s programs, teaching subjects related to museology and the conservation of natural science collections at the University of Girona (UdG), UAB, and the University of Barcelona (UB). She has also been a guest lecturer in courses in Mexico and Argentina, and regularly takes part in training activities across Spain. Her connection with academia allows her to share knowledge and, at the same time, renew her professional perspective through engagement with new generations of conservators.
Institutional Involvement and Social Commitment
She has also been actively involved in the institutional life of the ICP, taking part in various committees and commissions. She chaired the Non-Discrimination Committee (2018–2025), leading the drafting and implementation of equality plans and protocols against gender-based violence. She is a member of the HRS4R Implementation Committee and Working Group and takes part in the Preventive Conservation Commission of the Catalan Network of Natural Science Museums (XMCNC), among other working groups. Additionally, she is the legal representative of the staff (RLPT), unionized with Intersindical-CSC, and takes part in negotiation tables and employee representation bodies, where she has helped draft documents such as the salary scale and worked on the training plan and digital disconnection policy. These responsibilities reflect her commitment to creating safer, fairer, and more collaborative professional environments.
Research and Science Communication
In the fields of research and outreach, she has presented papers and published in conferences and specialist journals, often in collaboration with other professionals. Her work has covered topics such as fossil specimen conservation and digitisation, the musealisation of excavation sites, and replication materials and techniques. She also engages in science communication activities, including school talks, workshops, media interviews, and managing the @fossil_preparation Instagram account for the ICP’s conservation and preparation lab.
Other Experience and Transferable Skills
Her professional background has been enriched by work experience in other sectors (leisure education, hospitality, set design, adventure sports) and active involvement in social and feminist movements. This broad background has given her valuable skills such as adaptability, communication, conflict resolution, and initiative, which complement her technical profile.
Professional Vision
Convinced that heritage conservation is a collective task, Xènia Aymerich works with the goal of contributing—alongside her team—to the care, study, and dissemination of a paleontological heritage that is key to understanding the history of life on our planet.
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