NEW YORK, NY – GNUSA
The UCLA SNF Center for the Study of Hellenic Culture joins Cyprus’ scientific community in grieving the untimely passing — on January 1 — of Professor Ioanna Kakoulli, a globally respected scholar and a pioneer in monument conservation and archaeometry.
Kakoulli succeeded in seamlessly merging technology, history, and conservation science, leaving a remarkable legacy of innovation. She established the Archaeological Materials Research Group and the Molecular and Nano-Archaeology Laboratory at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she built international partnerships and published influential studies in major scientific journals, including Nature and the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
Her work centered on archaeological materials science, forensic archaeology, the development of new materials inspired by ancient technologies, and the long-term sustainability of cultural heritage.
Beyond her research, Kakoulli distinguished herself as an educator, designing an interdisciplinary doctoral program in Cultural Heritage Conservation at UCLA that integrated scientific, technical, and humanities-based approaches. Through this program, UCLA emerged as a leading center for identifying looted antiquities and safeguarding cultural heritage.
Kakoulli supervised more than 40 postgraduate students, many of whom now thrive in universities, museums, and industry. Her impact on scientific research and cultural heritage protection will endure.
“Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and co-director of the Archaeomaterial Group at UCLA, Ioanna was an energetic and visionary scholar who guided many students. Her research and publications will continue shaping the field,” the UCLA SNF Center shared on social media. “As Acting Director of the UCLA SNF Hellenic Center in 2023–2024, Ioanna organized meaningful programs centered on Cyprus and cultural heritage. We will miss her warmth, collegial spirit, brilliant mind, and unwavering dedication to her work and to Cyprus. Too soon. Too soon. May her memory be eternal.”
