Edgars Kuka in the Spotlight

Yesterday, PhD Edgars Kuka, researcher at the Laboratory of Wood Degradation and Protection of the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, stepped out from his daily work in the laboratory into the lights of the film set. Footage was captured both indoors and outdoors, revealing the scientist’s working environment and the fascinating nuances of his research.

The filming was part of a special science popularisation project that, in 2026, will offer the public a broader look at Latvian researchers and their contributions. Until the official launch, we will keep the intrigue, but it is already clear that Edgars is among those whose research fits seamlessly into both the Latvian and international scientific context.

Edgars Kuka’s scientific interests and expertise include the development of wood–polymer composites and the study of their properties, life cycle assessment, as well as the hydrothermal modification of wood. He researches ways to improve the surface properties of birch plywood using various methods, develops combined wood treatment techniques – including thermal modification and impregnation – and conducts copper determination in wood. Edgars actively participates in significant research projects and is a co-author of several internationally cited publications.

He has also been elected a member of the Latvian Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences – a public scientific association that is active both in Latvia and internationally, cooperating with the Latvian Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Agriculture, representing Latvia in the Union of European Academies for Science Applied to Agriculture, Food and Nature (UEAA), as well as participating in international research networks.