Ensis will play host to an exciting and engaging conference exploring the opportunities of wood science and technology in Melbourne from 13 to 16 November.

The International Academy of Wood Science (IAWS) 2006 Conference is titled “Wood Science and Technology in 2100” and will explore strategies for raising the profile of our most versatile and renewable resource.

The conference will cover topics such as the effects of wood production on climate and vice-versa, energy from wood, new commercial plantation species for wood production, genetic selection for wood quality improvement, chemical manufacture and storage in trees, wood in partnership with other materials and strategies for attracting the best people for the industry.

Delegates will have the opportunity to attend a full day’s field trip to particular forestry places of local interest and a tour of the Ensis facilities in Clayton.

Conference organiser, Chief Research Scientist with Ensis Wood Quality, and Academy Fellow, Dr Rob Evans, says: “This will be the first time our annual meeting has been held in Australia and it will include a variety of talented international speakers. The Academy Lecturer will be Dr W.E. (Ted) Hillis, who is the only Fellow to be awarded this, the Academy’s highest honour, for the second time.

“The global demand for sustainable resources is ever increasing but we need to be more adventurous if we are to revitalise scientific, political and industrial interest in wood - our most abundant and versatile renewable raw material.”

The conference is sponsored by Ensis, the CRC for Wood Innovations and Gunns Limited.

Further information is available at or on (03) 9545 2329.

The IAWS was formed in 1966 to promote, through high-level application of chemistry, physics and biology, the international development of wood science and technology.

Ensis is a joint venture in forestry and forest products research between Australia’s CSIRO and New Zealand’s Scion, and is a leading research provider.

The CRC for Wood Innovation is a collaborative Australian research network, providing the timber and wood products industries with applied technologies and training programs.

Gunns Limited is Australia's largest fully integrated hardwood forest products company.

Further Information: 
Dr Rob Evans, Ensis Ph: (03) 9545 2329