This project is breaking new ground by bringing together environmental and material data in the context of how collections are valued. This innovative project examines heritage collections as dynamic populations. How do the populations evolve? What is the relationship between a single object and the group? Collections Demography (2010-2013) will holistically address the demography of collections in relation to age, use and environmental influences through the optics of the values we attach to heritage. While a substantial body of published research exists on individual materials and objects, there is a significant need to understand lifetimes of collections. The evidence will inform the development of a comprehensive collection demographic model. As a key deliverable, this management tool will be based on an integrated understanding of the value of collections.