International Academy of Wood Science

The International Academy of Wood Science (IAWS)^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]} is an international academy and a non-profit assembly of wood scientists, recognizing all fields of wood science with their associated technological domains and securing a worldwide representation.^[9]

Since June 2023, the academy is represented by Dr. Stavros Avramidis, a Greek-Canadian professor and wood scientist who serves as the 19th President of the IAWS,^[10] and, also by Dr. Ingo Burgert, a German-Swiss wood scientist, who is presently the elected vice-president for the period 2023–2026.^[11]

History

The academy was first established on June 2, 1966, at the Centre Technique du Bois in Paris.

The development and establishment of the International Academy of Wood Science involved many people, but the individual who decided to found a wood academy was Professor Franz Gustav Kollmann, who had studied in the Wood Research (German: Holzforschung) department at the Technical University of Munich, Germany, and was then working in industry.^[12] He was also the first elected President of the academy in the years 1966–1972.

Since 1967, the official scientific journal of the IAWS is the journal of Wood Science and Technology.^[13]

Objectives

The Academy aims to advance the field of wood science globally by fostering coordinated progress and enhancing its reputation. One of the primary ways it does this is by selecting and honoring exceptional wood scientists as Fellows. This recognition celebrates significant contributions to wood science and encourages excellence in research and scholarly publishing. Additionally, the Academy organizes yearly plenary gatherings, which include administrative sessions and scientific presentations, typically held as international conferences.^[14]

Fellows of the International Academy of Wood Science (FIAWS) are experts actively involved in wood-related research across a wide spectrum. Their election is a mark of outstanding scientific achievement and integrity. Current Fellows nominate and assess candidates, and the executive committee decides how many new members are accepted each year based on these evaluations.

Fellows of the IAWS are expected to:

• Support and advance cutting-edge wood science and technology.
• Share and present their research at both IAWS-hosted and other international or national scientific forums.
• Advocate for the relevance and impact of wood science to policymakers, industry leaders, media, and the public.
• Encourage the publication of member research in the Quarterly Bulletins.

Executive committee

The executive committee of the IAWS consists of the following officers:^[15]

• President: Dr. Stavros Avramidis, Department of Wood Science, University of British Columbia, Canada
• Vice President: Dr. Ingo Burgert, Institute for Building Materials, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
• Secretary: Dr. Rupert Wimmer, Natural Materials Technology, BOKU University, Vienna, Austria
• Treasurer: Dr. Robert Ross, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin, USA^[16]
• Past President: Dr. Yoon Soo Kim, Wood Science & Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
• Chair of the Academy Board: Dr. Katarina Čufar, Department of Wood Science and Technology, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia

Distinguished members

• Alfred J. Stamm (1897–1985), member
• Erich Adler (1905–1985), member and recipient of Anselme Payen Award
• Josef Gierer (1919–), member and recipient of Anselme Payen Award
• Peter Koch (1920–1998), member^[17]
• Kyosti Vilho Sarkanen (1921–1990), member and recipient of Anselme Payen Award
• Walter Liese (1926–2023), member
• Chung-Yun Hse (1935–1921), member^[17]
• Edmone Roffael (1939–2021), member
• Roger M. Rowell (1939–), member
• Pieter Baas (1944–2024), member
• Raymond A. Young (1945–), member
• Gerd Wegener (1945–), member
• Antonio Pizzi (1946–), member
• Peter Niemz (1950–), member
• Alfred Teischinger (1954–), member
• John Ralph (1954–), member and recipient of Anselme Payen Award
• Geoffrey Daniel (1957–), member
• Callum A.S. Hill (1957–), member
• Philip D. Evans (1958–), member
• Rupert Wimmer (1960–), member
• Holger Militz (1960–), member and recipient of Schweighofer Prize
• Krishna K. Pandey (1962–), member
• Thomas Rosenau (1963–), member and recipient of Anselme Payen Award

Publications

• Wood Science and Technology^[18]
• IAWS Bulletin^{[19][20][21][22]}