Shadow day 2023

On April 5th, 2023, the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry welcomed 25 pupils from 5^th to 12^th grade to introduce them to the work of chemists, chemical engineers, chemical technologists, and the director of the institute. Two pupils, Ričards (8^th grade) and Ritvars (6^th grade) were shadows for PhD Edgars Kuka who took them through a journey of a researcher’s working day in Laboratory of Wood Biodegradation and Protection. Ričards and Ritvars acquired insights of colour formation, wood discolouration, microstructure of wood, development of microorganisms on wood surface, waste recycling and reuse, wood plastic composites, and microplastics. In the context of microorganism development, we examined the surface of wood specimens coated with linseed oil based formulations, which are being developed within the WOOD for HEALTH project. The pupils were informed about the microorganisms and why it is important to prevent their development during service life of wood products (e.g. in healthcare buildings). It was a pleasure to have such enthusiastic and wise shadows in the institute, who have the potential to pursue their future activities in the fields of chemistry, physics and material science and eventually make a successful carrier.

Ričards (on the left) and Ritvars (on the right) examining microorganisms on coated and uncoated wood surfaces

Visit of the Kainuu Central Hospital in Finland

We visited Kainuu Central Hospital in Finland, which has incorporated wood in the building interior. There we saw that wood products such as wood cladding, stairs, wall panels, doors and art elements are used in waiting areas, meeting rooms, patient rooms, restaurants and corridors. The rooms of high hygiene requirements did not have wood in them. More visual representation of the situation as well as the main takeaways are summarized in this presentation:

Summary of the Kainuu Central Hospital visit

Conference: ForestValue Final 2022

Meet us at the ForestValue Final Conference 2022, 28 - 29 September, Madrid, Spain

Visit the ForestValue Final conference web page for more information - click here.

Conference: WSE 2022

Meet us at the 18th Annual Meeting of the Northern European Network for Wood Science and Engineering (WSE 2022), 21 - 22 September, Goettingen, Germany

Visit the WSE 2022 conference web page for more information - click here.

Meeting: 1st WP3 meeting

In the 1st WP3 meeting, the main tasks were discussed in detail as well as the initial plans for accomplishing them. The presentations by WKI and LSIWC provided the ground for discussion about the next activities identifying also any potential difficulties, which should be addressed in the near future. In addition, the first results were presented and discussed.

Meeting: Monthly meeting (March 2022)

In the monthly meeting, the progress and upcoming plans of the WP1, WP2, WP3 and WP6 activities were discussed. In addition, information and ideas about the reporting, conference program, press release, MsTeams possibilities and use of it were shared.

Meeting: LSIWC and SIA Iecavnieks & Co

In the meeting, design and preparation possibilities of non-film forming coatings based on linseed oil were discussed. The partners agreed on the production and delivery of the first experimental samples for testing.