Specific responsibility: The preparation and conservation of specimens for inclusion in our galleries, temporary or permanent exhibitions, and for research.

Research interests/expertise: Anoxic environment techniques to improve the life of collections, adhesives, and how to improve the packing of collections to be stored and handled effectively.

Vicen Carrió studied Biology at the University of Valencia, Spain, before moving to Edinburgh in 1992. Having first worked with Professor Euan Clarkson, University of Edinburgh, in Silurian gastropod fossils she gained funding to study the conservation of fossils, minerals and rocks. Since 1997 she has developed her career in geological conservation and has undertaken research in different areas of the collection, presenting numerous talks at conferences nationally and internationally. This has helped her to develop new techniques in conservation and to keep up to date with new products and technology as they are developed. She now has an international reputation as a geological conservator.

Vicen gained the designation Accredited Conservator-Restorer (ACR) in 2015, awarded by the Institute of Conservation (ICON) for demonstrating a high level of proficiency in conservation practice. In addition, she became an ICON PACR Assessor in 2019.

Currently she cares for the Palaeobiology Collections which include 250,000 fossils. Her responsibilities include the conservation and preparation of fossils, and providing advice on geological conservation and preparation techniques to other departments within the museum and to visitors working on our collections.

Her role involves the preparation and conservation of specimens for inclusion in our galleries, temporary or permanent exhibitions, and for research. She is experienced in a variety of physical and chemical techniques including cutting and polishing, making acetate peels, thin sectioning, moulding and casting, acid preparation, field techniques, and preventative conservation.