Education
Certificate in Quality Management, University of Manitoba, 2004
Ph.D., McGill University, Chemistry and Classical Archaeology, 1983
Doctorat de IIIe Cycle, University of Paris XI, Orsay, France, Physics & Archaeology, 1980
B.Sc. & M.Sc., McGill University, Chemistry & Archaeology, 1973/1975
Research Interests
Founding member of C-SCAPE, the Centre for Scientific and Curatorial Analysis of Painting Elements, a collaboration between the University of Winnipeg, the Winnipeg Art Gallery, and the NRC. Specific techniques used in studying artwork include visible-light, near-infrared, and mid-infrared spectroscopy and imaging, in particular hyperspectral imaging, and digital image processing. Specific materials of interest include paintings, drawings, and manuscripts, in particular parchments, especially the Archimedes Palimpsest.
Developing analytical instrumentation and sensors, especially for industrial, nuclear, and archaeological applications (dating, provenance, etc.)
Imaging for nuclear safeguards, including instrument development for Cerenkov Viewing Devices (the CVD is an ultraviolet viewer used around the world for inspection of nuclear fuel); fabrication, testing, sales, and international training activities related to CVDs
Developing advanced radiochemical analysis techniques (HPLC, LSC, alpha and gamma spectrometry, neutron activation analysis) for analysis of radioactive and environmental samples
Other Interests
- to develop innovative instruments for non-invasive investigation of relevant parameters
- to exploit physical, chemical, and nuclear tools for solving measurement problems in biological and industrial systems
- to promote an understanding of science and technology issues in the public forum, especially among young people
- quality assurance of chemical measurements, and implementation of quality management systems in scientific environments
- stargazing; archaeology; flute music; folk, jazz, & blues; early science; optical instruments
Professional Responsibilities
- Associate Editor, Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
- Board Member, Manitoba Science Academy, Pinawa MB
PUBLICATIONS:
Over 40 articles in refereed journals, books, conference proceedings, and other publications; see below for a selected list.
D.M. Goltz, E. Cloutis, L. Norman, and M. Attas, “Enhancement of Faint Text Using Visible (420-720 nm) Multispectral Imaging,” Restaurator 28, 11-28, 2007.
M. Attas, “The Big Zit,” Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada 100, 122, 2006 June
E.M. Attas, “Enhancement of Parchment Legibility Using Spectroscopic Imaging,” Archivaria 57, 131-145, 2004
D.M. Goltz, J. Coombs, C. Marion, E. Cloutis, J. Gibson, M. Attas, L.-P. Choo-Smith, and C. Collins, “Pigment Identification in Artwork Using Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry,” Talanta 63, 609-616, 2004
D. Goltz, J. McClelland, A. Schellenberg, M. Attas, E. Cloutis, and C. Collins, “Spectroscopic Studies on the Darkening of Lead White,” Applied Spectroscopy 57:11, 1393-1398, 2003
E. Cloutis, D. Goltz, J. Coombs, M. Attas, C. Majzels, and C. Collins, “Non-Destructive Discrimination of Artists' White Materials Using Bidirectional Reflectance Spectroscopy (0.3-4.3 µm),” Canadian Journal of Analytical Sciences and Spectroscopy 48, 196-209, 2003
M. Attas, E. Cloutis, C. Collins, D. Goltz, C. Majzels, J.R. Mansfield, and H.H. Mantsch, “Near-Infrared Spectroscopic Imaging in Art Conservation: Investigation of Drawing Constituents,” Journal of Cultural Heritage 4, 127-136, 2003
E.M. Attas, M.G. Sowa, T.B. Posthumus, B.J. Schattka, H.H. Mantsch, and S.L. Zhang, “Skin Hydration Images from Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectra,” American Clinical Laboratory 21, No.8, 32-36, October 2002.
M. Attas, “Functional Infrared Imaging for Biomedical Applications,” in Handbook of Vibrational Spectroscopy, J.M. Chalmers and P.R. Griffiths (Eds), John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, Volume 5, 3388 – 3398, 2002.
E.M. Attas, M.G. Sowa, T.B. Posthumus, B.J. Schattka, H.H. Mantsch, and S.L. Zhang, “Near-Infrared Spectroscopic Imaging for Skin Hydration – The Long and the Short of it,” Biopolymers: Biospectroscopy, 67, 96-106, 2002.
J.R. Mansfield, M. Attas, C. Majzels, E. Cloutis, C. Collins, and H.H. Mantsch, “Near Infrared Spectroscopic Reflectance Imaging: A New Tool in Art Conservation,” Vibrational Spectroscopy, 28, 59-66, 2002.
M. Attas, T. Posthumus, B. Schattka, M. Sowa, H. Mantsch, and S. Zhang, “Long-Wavelength Near-Infrared Spectroscopic Imaging for In-Vivo Skin Hydration Measurements,” Vibrational Spectroscopy, 28, 37-43, 2002.
M. Attas, M. Hewko, J. Payette, T. Posthumus, M. Sowa, and H. Mantsch, “Visualization of Cutaneous Hemoglobin Oxygenation and Skin Hydration Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopic Imaging,” Skin Research and Technology, 7, 238-245, 2001.
M. Attas, “Looking Down and Looking Up: Common Viewpoints of Archaeology and Astronomy,” Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada 92, 244-249, 1998.
E.M. Attas, G.R. Burton, J.D. Chen, G.J. Young, L. Hildingsson, A. Nilsson, Y. Abushady, I. Acquah, M. Riihonen and P. Vodrazka, eds., Cerenkov Viewing Devices for Spent Fuel Verification at Light Water Reactors, Revised Edition, International Atomic Energy Agency, 1997.
E.M. Attas, G.R. Burton, J.D. Chen, G.J. Young, L. Hildingsson and O. Trepte. “A Nuclear Fuel Verification System Using Digital Imaging of Cherenkov Light,” Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A384, 522-530, 1997.
M.A. Giles and E.M. Attas, “Rare Earth Elements as Internal Batch Marks for Rainbow Trout: Retention, Distribution, and Effects on Growth of Injected Dysprosium, Europium, and Samarium”, Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 122 (1993) 289-297.
E.M. Attas, K.I. Burns and A. Denovan, “Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis of High-Purity Gallium, Arsenic and Gallium Arsenide,” Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Articles, 160 (1992) 77-84.
E.M. Attas, J.D. Chen and G.J. Young, “A Cerenkov Viewing Device for Used-Fuel Verification”, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A299 (1990) 88-93.
E.M. Attas, K.W. Chambers, W. Dueck, R. Dutton and A.K. McIlwain, “Solar Flares and 'Cold Fusion',” Nature 344 (1990) 390.
J.D. Chen, E.A. Hildebrandt, H.G. Delaney, W.A. Boivin, E.L. Bialas, E.M. Attas and M.T. Heinrich, “Alpha and Gamma Spectrometry for Waste Management Studies,” Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Articles 123 (1988), 695-705.
E.M. Attas, “Dust, Sand and Fish: Neutron Activation Analysis of Rare-Earth Tags,” Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Articles 124 (1988), 331-340.
A. Kerr, W. Kupferschmidt and E.M. Attas, “Determination of Uranium in Natural Groundwaters using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography,” Analytical Chemistry 60 (1988) 2729-2733.
E.M. Attas, J.D. Chen and E.A. Hildebrandt, “An Automated Facility for Neutron Activation Analysis,” Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Articles 109 (1987) 55-68.
E.M. Attas, J.M. Fossey and L. Yaffe, “An Archaeometric Study of Early Bronze Age Pottery Production and
Exchange in Argolis and Korinthia (Corinthia), Greece,” Journal of Field Archaeology 14 (1987) 77-90.
E.M. Attas, J.M. Fossey, and L. Yaffe, “Provenance-Group Formation Using a General-Purpose Statistical Analysis Package,” Advances in Computer Archaeology 2:2 (1985) 1-30.
E.M. Attas, J.M. Fossey and L. Yaffe, “Corrections for Drill-Bit Contamination in Sampling Ancient Pottery for Neutron Activation Analysis,” Archaeometry 26 (1984) 104-107.
E.M. Attas, J.M. Fossey and L. Yaffe, “Variations of Ceramic Composition with Time: a Test Case Using Lakonian Pottery,” Archaeometry 24 (1982) 181-190.
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