UK wood science body marks 70th anniversary – Timber Trades Journal

The IWSc was established on December 8, 1955, after the UK timber trade recognized the need to keep up with wood science, and to capitalize on emerging technology through increased knowledge and training.

The stated objectives of the Institute were to “advance public education in the study of wood and allied subjects, and to promote the advancement of technical, scientific, practical, and general knowledge in the subject”.

The IWSc established qualifications for Certificate and Associate level membership – rolling out these training courses to hundreds of students in the industry. 

In 1958 the Institute established the world-renowned Journal of the Institute of Wood Science. Over the period to 2009, there were 104 editions, containing more than 1,000 papers, articles and technical contributions – providing a substantial and lasting body of professional knowledge in wood science. In 2010 the Journal was re-branded as the International Wood Products Journal and continues to be published with 4 issues a year.

A clear and consistent message radiated from the IWSc – a focus on the future of wood, timber, and wood science, and their continuing importance to society.

2009 saw the IWSc merge with the IOM3 (Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining). Its membership, activities, publications and expertise were incorporated into the larger institute’s structure.

After restructuring and renaming of IOM3 divisions, the wood focused body is now called the IOM3 Wood Technology Group (WTG). It continues to provide a technical focus on scientific, technical, practical and material aspects of wood and wood-based materials. This is achieved through its leadership group of industry experts who seek to publish articles in Timber Trades Journal, Materials World and one-off activities. The ongoing publication of the International Wood Products Journal, and organization of Timber conferences continues to promote scientific advances to the wood community.

With the original IWSc providing its own qualifications, under the IOM3 the membership and accreditation structure was slightly modernized. The main training provision is a Timber and Panel Products Level 2 course for the trade, with a Level 3 course and shorter professional development curses also available via the IOM3 Training Academy. 

“Seventy years on, the legacy of the IWSc and its successor the WTG demonstrates that wood science is far more than a historical discipline,” said WTG. “It is a living and evolving field that continues to shape the timber industry.”