The Institute of Wood Science (IWSc) has a new impetus these days. Try to get hold of David Woodbridge, executive director, and you’ll know how busy his programme is. The Institute has found new success with its training foundation course and recently announced an exciting programme for its upgraded annual convention.

The foremost reason for the creation of the IWSc in the 1950s was the advancement of technical knowledge and understanding of wood and wood products by those concerned with their production, processing and use. These aims continue to remain central to its activities. The IWSc provides syllabuses, workbooks and examinations for nationally recognised professional qualifications in timber technology at pre-degree level. With its new foundation course, it is attracting increasing numbers of people keen to improve their knowledge of wood as a material. More than 200 have enrolled on the course since it was launched last year.

The IWSc’s annual conference has been well attended over the years, and has received support from the timber trade and TTJ. But last month, it rolled out ambitious plans for an annual convention aimed at attracting the architectural and design community, in addition to its traditional trade audience.

New style convention

The central pillar of this new style convention is a series of case studies by eminent architects on the theme ‘How does wood help to sustain the built environment?’. Speakers from Ove Arup, Buro Happold and Michael Hopkins and Partners have been engaged and a presentation on the remarkable EU Vet Centre (TTJ April 6) will be presented by the design architect Ciaran O’Connor. The programme also includes speakers on wood and the environment as well as wood treatments, window refurbishment and maintenance, coating systems and their environmental impact. The convention takes place on October 10-11 at the Cardiff Hilton International, recently refurbished by Cardiff architect Powell Dobson Partnership, and sponsors include TTJ.

New direction

The IWSc’s president Geoff Bagnall explains the new direction: ‘We have a strong and energetic council and an able executive director, which has provided a great deal of energy and initiative. This enables us to tackle a training programme, which is vital for the future health of the timber trade and woodworking industries. In particular we are very encouraged by the development of in-house training by companies such as Timbmet, based upon IWSc programmes’.

On the subject of funding, always a thorny subject, Mr Bagnall is positive. ‘We have a core income from our membership and from training activities, and we have a healthy level of new applicants,’ he said. ‘We are also extremely grateful to the Timber Trade Federation, wood. for good and the American Hardwood Export Council for their increased level of financial support for the new style convention. We hope, also, that other organisations and companies will take up one of the several sponsorship packages on offer at Cardiff, which enables them to promote their own products and services. We are looking forward to welcoming new delegates as well as our members at this important event.’

IWSc publications

The Journal of the Institute is published bi-annually. Libraries and scientific institutions throughout the world subscribe to the IWSc Journal, which contains papers on wood science and technology. It is despatched free to all members.

In addition the IWSc produces Wood Focus, a magazine containing reports and technical articles, together with details of branch and national activities. This too is despatched to all members including student members.

The membership of the IWSc is worldwide. Details of the Institute, its training services and publications are available by visiting www.iwsc.org.uk