The Chemistry of Passion: A Conversation with Inese Fiļipova

The staff of the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry (LSIWC) is celebrating a special moment — our colleague, Head of the Cellulose Laboratory, Dr.sc.ing. Inese Fiļipova, has recently been elected to the position of Associate Professor. This is a significant milestone in her professional journey, reflecting not only outstanding scientific achievements but also her long-standing contribution to academic teaching.

Inese is one of the leading researchers in cellulose materials, and her story is one of both rational choices and deep passion — a story about the path into science, the people who have inspired her, and the students, projects, and ideas that drive her forward.

The path in science and personal motivation

How did you come to the field of wood chemistry and cellulose research? Was there a particular moment or person who inspired you?

Inese Fiļipova:
When I was in my final year of secondary school, Latvia was strategically developing the idea of building a new cellulose mill in Ozolsala, near Jēkabpils, where I was born and raised. A brochure for the study programme “Integrated Wood Processing” reached our Jēkabpils Secondary School No. 3. The programme was compelling — it had been specifically created by the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry together with Riga Technical University to prepare specialists for the planned industry.

My decision was very rational: I would study to become a wood processing specialist and return to work in the new mill in my hometown, which at the time I saw as my future. The studies were fascinating — lectures were delivered by leading researchers from the Institute, each teaching their own specialised topic, giving us the extraordinary opportunity to learn from top scientists, experts, and practitioners in wood chemistry and processing. Laboratory classes took place at the Institute, allowing us to experience the diversity of wood science first-hand.

An interesting fact — I also earned a woodworking master qualification as part of the engineering curriculum. I wrote my bachelor thesis on wood extractives under the supervision of Ģirts Zaķis — one of the masters of wood chemistry and author of the book “Fundamentals of Wood Chemistry.” My master’s thesis on cellulose bleaching was supervised by Arnis Treimanis, the long-time head of the Cellulose Laboratory and a legendary figure in paper research. These two scientists have inspired me the most and will always remain my scientific authorities.

Honorary Doctor of the Latvian Academy of Sciences
Dr. habil. chem. Ģirts Zaķis

Since the cellulose mill near Jēkabpils was never built and my personal plans at the time became more connected with Rīga, after obtaining my engineering degree I accepted a job offer at the Lignin Laboratory of the LSIWC and began my work in science. A few years later, I moved to the Cellulose Laboratory, where I continued my scientific development by preparing my doctoral thesis specifically in the field of cellulose materials — the field in which I am still working today.

What brings you the greatest satisfaction in research?

Inese: Since I work in the field of materials science, I am always deeply satisfied when the research process leads to an improvement in material properties — when we manage to obtain a stronger material with better characteristics than before. I am particularly interested in exploring the limits of what can be achieved with naturally occurring substances and materials — how can we create natural alternatives to synthetic materials? I constantly have one question in mind: is there yet another way to tap into the potential created by nature?

I am fascinated by the unique, almost incomprehensible properties of natural structures — wood, cereal stems, spider silk. There is so much we can learn and borrow from nature, and when we combine this with the latest technological possibilities and a scientist’s imagination, the potential for creating new materials becomes practically inexhaustible.

If you were not in science, what profession would you choose?

Inese: I feel close to helping and supporting professions — medicine, social work, psychological support. I can imagine myself becoming a doctor or a midwife. I have partly fulfilled this inner calling by using my youngest child’s parental leave to complete training as a birth doula.

Although I can also imagine myself in a profession related to forestry or horticulture — something closer to wood science.

A New Stage in Your Career — Associate Professor

We have an important piece of news to share — you were recently elected as an Associate Professor. How do you personally feel about this new status?

Inese: Yes, when I started working at the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU) a few years ago, I began my path in higher education, first becoming a Lecturer and this year an Associate Professor. I feel gratified that my pedagogical, scientific, and organisational work so far has been recognised, and that the Professors’ Council of the Materials Science field elected me to this position. I also feel a strong sense of responsibility because the title containing the word “professor” is, for me, associated with excellence in everything — work ethic, work quality, continuous knowledge development, and the obligation to share knowledge with others. I will still need some time to get used to the new form of address — until now, only my closest colleagues, friends, and family members have addressed me this way, both proudly and with a touch of humour.

What does this step mean for your professional path, and what new opportunities has it opened?

Inese: In my direct work with students at the university, I have always done — and will continue to do — my best, so in that regard nothing significant changes. Although there is one new advantage: I now have my own office for consultations at the university, which I did not have in the Lecturer position.

In my scientific work, my Associate Professor title has helped the LSIWC establish a collaboration with Laval University in Canada. A professor there was interested in cooperation in the field of suberin research and wanted to send a PhD student for an exchange visit, on the condition that the international academic supervisor on the Latvian side at LSIWC holds at least the rank of Associate Professor. The funding application has been submitted — we hope for a positive outcome and a valuable scientific exchange when we host the doctoral student in Latvia.

In terms of my academic career, the next step is the position of Full Professor. I will be able to apply for it in a few years, provided that I maintain my scientific, pedagogical, and organisational activity at least at the current level.

Research Directions and Projects

Your work focuses on lignocellulosic fibre technologies, nanocellulose, and new packaging materials. How would you explain in simple terms why this matters for our daily lives?

Inese: Packaging makes up the largest share of the waste generated by humanity, and vast amounts of synthetic packaging materials still end up — at best — in landfills, but often in nature, causing immeasurable pollution and harm to the planet. Of course, we need to reduce packaging use overall and think about reuse or recycling, but I believe that one of the best solutions is to create functional packaging from materials that are biodegradable after use — for example, through home or industrial composting.

Lignocellulosic raw materials — wood, or plant stems and stalks — contain cellulose fibres that not only give the plant its strength but, when extracted from biomass, can form bonds between fibres and are suitable for creating human-made, everyday products. The most illustrative example is paper: its basic structure is formed by cellulose fibres, and paper is an excellent biodegradable packaging material that can be improved by adding additives, creating coatings or internal layers, or modifying the fibres themselves. All these approaches are small steps toward creating alternatives to synthetic packaging, gradually reducing pollution because such materials will break down in nature.

What are the biggest challenges you face in research?

Inese: The interaction of natural substances and materials with water is the biggest challenge. Cellulose attracts water, which is beneficial in some cases — for example, for tissues — but entirely undesirable for packaging, where we want durability even upon contact with moisture. It is also difficult to compete with the mechanical strength, flexibility, and thermoplasticity of synthetic polymer materials.

If you had to name one project that is closest to your heart, which would it be and why?

Inese: The projects closest to me are those that explore the limits of what cellulose fibres can do. The greatest satisfaction comes from carrying out a project through all its stages — from the initial idea to a well-evaluated final report. My first independent project was my postdoctoral research on nanocellulose production. Later, I received ERDF funding for a project on recycled fibre packaging with natural polymer additives. And now, in the BIOHYDROPACK project, we are developing hydrophobic packaging from hemp fibres, chitosan, and suberic acids.

Which results, in your opinion, could reach practical use the fastest?

Inese: Results and products that could enter production and practical use are those that are not only environmentally friendly but also competitive with existing synthetic products in terms of functionality and cost. A large share of scientific results never becomes practically applicable precisely because of production costs. As long as manufacturers and consumers can choose a cheaper option, it is difficult to convince them to adopt environmentally friendly but more expensive products.

Innovation and Collaboration

The collaboration between LSIWC and V.L.T. Ltd. has resulted in innovative biodegradable packaging materials. What do you consider the key to the success of this collaboration?

Inese: For productive cooperation between a scientist and an entrepreneur, a strong team and the entrepreneur’s genuine interest are essential — but even more important is EU or national funding, which allows a company to test innovative scientific ideas while contributing only a small share of co-financing. This makes the scientific process less risky, because in the event of scientific failure, the entrepreneur does not lose their investment.

V.L.T. Ltd. is one of the few companies in Latvia that produces fibre-based products — egg packaging materials from recycled paper. The company’s openness to “greener” products, replacing synthetic paper additives with the natural polymer chitosan, resulted in several valuable outcomes. The LSIWC project team built its own pilot-scale egg carton moulding unit, and improved egg carton prototypes were developed both scientifically and at an industrial level. The project’s mycelium-based packaging and chitosan-enhanced egg cartons received several sustainable packaging awards.

How do you assess Latvia’s potential in green technologies and the bioeconomy?

Inese: Considering that wood and knowledge are Latvia’s main resources, I believe that the bioeconomy should form the foundation of Latvia’s manufacturing sector. I see Latvia’s development path moving in the direction of the Scandinavian countries. In my view, the potential of green technologies is significant, but its realisation depends on various factors, primarily political and financial. Research, technological development, and science in general are severely underfunded in Latvia.

I believe that national research has survived up to now mainly thanks to European funding — and this should not be the case. The state must recognise its potential, invest strategically, and then we can expect the development of green technologies that matches the country’s real capabilities.

As a researcher with the rights of a Science Council expert, what do you consider the most important criteria when evaluating scientific project proposals?

Inese: In a scientific project proposal, I want to see a clear idea — what is the previously unexplored issue, the “knowledge gap”, that the researcher aims to investigate and fill. A clear work plan and research methodology are very important. I also pay attention to whether the applicant has considered the risk of failure — what will be done if the hypothesis is not confirmed, and whether there is at least, at the conceptual level, an alternative pathway to reach the project’s objective. 

Pedagogy and Young People

You teach the course “Wood Chemical Technologies” at the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU). What is the main thing you want students to take away from this course?

Inese: The course is intended for students who will become wood-processing professionals, so I do not know whether they will eventually become wood chemists. However, I want to broaden their horizons, introduce them to the possibilities of wood processing, and give them knowledge about the diversity of products. I want to show that the possibilities of using wood are extremely wide — paper, lignin, extractives, products of wood hydrolysis and pyrolysis, textile fibres, sugar, ethanol and more, and more, and more! The study process includes practical work in the LSIWC Cellulose Laboratory and excursions to several other laboratories. We watch and analyse online videos about wood chemistry and wood processing, and I teach students to recognise scientific facts and distinguish them from misleading information.

How do you motivate students and young people to choose science as a career path?

Inese: I tell them that being a scientist is a meaningful way to satisfy natural human curiosity. I also talk about how broad the field of research can be — both in Latvia and worldwide. I explain how many opportunities there are to do internships at top universities and research centres around the world, to attend conferences globally, and to be inspired by like-minded scientists working in related fields. I talk about career opportunities specifically at LSIWC, where young people are supported during their studies and throughout the development of their doctoral theses, and where professional development courses and training are available both in Latvia and abroad. If one has the ability, skills, knowledge, and — most importantly — the desire, it is possible to build a scientific career quite quickly.

How do you remember working with the students Jānis and Valters, who created paper from algae and went on to participate in an international competition in the USA? What impressed or inspired you the most?

Inese: I have been impressed by every student who has come to the Cellulose Laboratory to carry out their research project! Every year, new ideas emerge about what materials could be used to make paper — from tree leaves, pine needles, recycled paper, algae, dandelion leaves and fluff, tea residues, hemp… students’ imagination and enthusiasm are endless! The international competition laureates Jānis and Valters came to us with their raw material already prepared — a specially processed algae pulp — which only needed to be transformed into paper, and we succeeded. The LSIWC Cellulose Laboratory has the only publicly accessible laboratory-scale paper machine in the Baltic States, which we allowed this student team to use. They were incredibly dedicated and passionate about their research idea.

Beyond the Workbench

What is your source of inspiration in everyday life?

Inese: I am inspired by my wonderful teams — both my professional team and my family, and especially my children!

Nature also inspires me. I live almost in the countryside, so the view from my kitchen window opens onto wide fields with a forest beyond them, where wild animals often wander. I often sit and watch the sunset.

How do you rest after intensive work in the laboratory and on projects?

Inese: I read fiction, watch good films and theatre performances, attend concerts both in Latvia and abroad, travel, exercise, slowly cultivate my garden, and take care of my three cats — I enjoy everything around me.

If you had to name one word or value that best describes your attitude toward science and life — what would it be?

Inese: Forward momentum.