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As Fall neared its end in the Mountain State, a group of West Virginia University scholars got a taste of Spring at the 51st annual convention of the Society of Wood Science and Technology, held Nov. 10-12 in Concepción, Chile. WVU’s program in Wood Science and Technology was represented by Jim Armstrong, professor and outgoing president of the Society, Levente Denes, visiting assistant professor, and Oluwatosin Adedipe, a Ph.D. candidate from Nigeria.

“The Society’s vision is ‘To be the world leader in advancing the profession of wood science,’” said Armstrong, who concluded his term as the Society’s president at this event. “This convention was a significant step in pursuing that vision as it was the first time the Society held a convention outside of the North American continent. One prior convention was held in Mexico, several in Canada, and the vast majority in the U.S.”

While only three individuals from WVU’s Wood Science and Technology program were able to attend in person, every faculty member in the unit was represented as an author of a research presentation at the convention.

In addition to his presidential duties, Armstrong also was co-author of a poster presentation, “An Analysis of Appalachian Hardwood Markets in China,” with Jingxin Wang, associate professor, and Ph.D. candidates Jinzhuo Wu and Wenshu Lin.

Denes presented a poster, “Investigation of the Compression and Bending Strength of Veneer-Polyurethane Foam Composites,” which was co-authored with Elemer Lang, associate professor, and master’s candidate Bradley A. McGraw,

Adedipe presented a poster co-authored by Ben Dawson-Andoh, associate professor, in the Society’s Student Poster Competition. The poster, “Prediction of Yellow-Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) Veneer Stiffness and Bulk Density Using NIR Spectroscopy and Multivariate Calibration,” placed fourth in the competition.

The Society is an internationally-recognized professional organization of wood scientists, engineers, marketing specialists and other professionals concerned with science and technology of wood and lignocellulosic materials. WVU’s program in Wood Science and Technology is one of only ten in the United States to be accredited by the Society.