IRG57 was another successful and memorable meeting of the International Research Group on Wood Protection. We were delighted to welcome participants from around the world to Beijing, where we shared the latest developments in wood protection, wood durability, bamboo technologies, and the sustainable use of renewable materials.
The meeting featured two outstanding keynote presentations highlighting the remarkable progress that China has made in our field. Jin Liu, Deputy Director of the Laboratory for Wood Protection at the Wood Value Promotion and Sustainable Development Center, presented the current status of wood protection in China, while Professor Wenji Yu from the Chinese Academy of Forestry showcased recent advancements in bamboo processing and protection. Together, these presentations demonstrated China's growing contribution to global research, innovation, and industrial development.
The local organizing committee did an exceptional job. The conference facilities were excellent, the scientific programme was stimulating, and all events were organized with great professionalism and hospitality. The Scientific Field Trip provided participants with a unique opportunity to visit the Beijing Forestry University wood products research facilities, the Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum, and the Beijing Longshuncheng Jingzuo Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum. These visits offered valuable insights into both China's rich cultural heritage and its modern research infrastructure. The Post-Conference Tour to the Great Wall and the Summer Palace provided a memorable conclusion to the week.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Conference Chair, Professor Jinzhen Cao, the Scientific Programme Chair, Professor Hiroshi Matsunaga, the members of the Scientific Programme Committee, and all members of the local organizing committee for their dedication and hard work in delivering such an outstanding meeting.
I would also like to extend my appreciation to our sponsors for their continuous support of the IRG. Their commitment to research, innovation, and international collaboration is essential to the success of our organization and our annual meetings.
As we conclude our time in Beijing, we can already look forward to the next chapter of the IRG journey. IRG58 will take us to Venice, Italy, providing another excellent opportunity to strengthen existing collaborations, establish new partnerships, and advance the science and practice of wood protection.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to making IRG57 a success. I look forward to meeting you again in Venice.
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IRG57 in Beijing provided a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas and to strengthen our scientific community in wood protection.
The meeting opened with welcoming remarks by Prof. Zhaohu Li, President of Beijing Forestry University. The keynote presentations on the current status of wood protection in China and recent advancements in bamboo utilization, delivered by Ms Jin Liu and Prof. Wenji Yu, provided valuable insights into both present developments and future perspectives. These themes were further explored in two special sessions, allowing deeper discussion of specific topics.
These scientific discussions were further complemented by the Scientific Field Trip, which provided an opportunity to experience these topics in practice. Visits to Beijing Forestry University, as well as museums related to ancient architecture and cultural heritage, allowed participants to gain a more practical and tangible understanding of the themes discussed during the meeting.
Such a well-balanced programme, linking scientific discussions with practical experiences, was made possible by the excellent efforts of the Local Organising Committee. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all members of the Local Organising Committee, led by Prof. Jinzhen Cao, as well as to Beijing Forestry University for their kind support and hospitality.
From the perspective of the Scientific Programme, it was encouraging to see a wide range of topics and active discussions throughout the meeting. Presentations covered both traditional and new topics such as sustainable materials and bamboo technologies.
I would also like to thank all authors, session chairs, and reviewers for their valuable contributions. The active participation of many researchers, including early-career researchers, made the meeting especially rewarding.
I look forward to continuing our discussions and collaborations at IRG58 in Venice.
Dr Hiroshi Matsunaga - IRG Vice-President
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Gareth Williams Award presented by Arxada
Best Scientific Paper Presentation
Luka KOPAČ, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Rich Ziobro Award presented by Koppers
Best Scientific Poster Presentation
Wenshuang LIU, Beijing Forestry University, China
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Viance Innovation Award presented by Viance
Most Innovation Scientific Research
Dan LU, Beijing Forestry University, China
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Representing Corporate Members:
Shekaib Adab, Genics Inc, Canada
Yuji Kubo, Koshii Preserving, Japan
Section 1 Biology
Vice-Chair:
Davor Krzisnik, Slovenia
Section 5 Sustainability & Environment
Vice-Chair:
René Herrera, Spain
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Templates for submission of Papers and Posters for IRG58 are available on the IRG website at the Templates webpage.
Deadlines for submissions of Papers and Posters for IRG58 can be found at this link.
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Application criteria, information and forms for the 2027 Ron Cockcroft Award to provide travel cost support for those eligible, in order to attend IRG58 in Venice, Italy during June 13-17, 2027 are available at this link.
Note that the deadline for submission of applications for the 2027 RCA awards to attend IRG58 is December 15, 2026.
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