Not all the projects require physical courage, as in the case of the intrepid student examining Edwards Hall in the cherrypicker. More typically, the studies can be done on the ground and in the lab. Most involve examination of deteriorating buildings on campus, but some students work with Norman Muller, who is the Art Conservator at the Princeton University Art Museum, or with Ted Stanley, who is the Special Collections Paper Conservator at the Firestone Library. The goal of the project is to assess the condition of an object or building, decide what mechanisms might be responsible for its deterioration, and propose a plan for conservation. If the students elect to do lab research on the problem, and write a report on the results, the project can substitute for the final exam (a popular option!).
The photos below show some of the projects the students have undertaken over the years.