Helen Coxon has a B.A. in General Arts and a Diploma in Archaeological Conservation, both from the University of Durham in the UK. She joined the Royal Ontario Museum as an objects conservator in 1987, and in 2006 became the ROM’s first Preventive Conservator, focussing on environmental control, pest control and materials testing. Her publications range from spot-tests for plastics identification to various aspects of air pollution and climate control, and she is currently working on an Integrated Pest Management manual for the ROM. She also delivers presentations and lectures on pest control and the interaction of the environment with artifacts at various levels from the general public to university classes.