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05.02.2026, Dr. sc. ing. Janis Rizikovs Leading researcher of the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry (LSIWC) visited TalTech – Tallinn University of Technology and contributed to two significant academic events. Guest Seminar Jānis delivered a lecture titled “Sustainable valorization of birch bark in the biorefinery context”, presenting the latest research on suberinic acids, birch bark valorization, and bio‑based material development. The seminar, hosted by Dr. Yevgen Karpichev, PhD, brought together students and researchers both on-site and online. PhD Thesis Defence During the same...

This morning on Rīta Panorāma , a broad audience was introduced to a major achievement by scientists from the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry — an eco-friendly binder derived from birch bark that could soon be introduced into real industrial production. “From a by-product of fuel production to a high-value product—this briefly sums up the work carried out by scientists at the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry. An environmentally friendly binder for plywood manufacturing has been created from birch bark and is expected to be introduced into industrial practice very soon,”—this...

In the article series “What Can This Equipment Do?”, we present laboratory infrastructure acquired within the project “Strengthening the Capacity of the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry to Participate in International Cooperation Projects.” (No. 1.1.1.2/1/25/I/003) These instruments are not merely technical upgrades – they are strategic tools that enable the Institute to engage fully in high-level international consortia, develop new research themes in bioeconomy, materials science and environmental technologies, and provide partners with precise and reproducible experimental...

The travelling exhibition "Research Latvia 2026", created by the Ministry of Education and Science, offers a unique opportunity to get to know 12 outstanding Latvian scientists and their contribution to the development of society and research. In February, the travelling exhibition and the science calendar highlight the work of the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry and the achievements of its researchers, emphasising the institute’s role in Latvia’s research landscape. From 3 to 27 February the exhibition can be seen at the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry (Dzerbenes street 27...

In 2026, the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry (LSIWC) celebrates its 80th anniversary. February marks the month of the Institute’s founding. In 1946, when the Latvian Academy of Sciences established 15 research institutes, the then Institute of Forestry Problems – today’s LSIWC – was among them. Since that time, LSIWC has become one of the leading wood-research centres in the Baltic region. The Institute’s origins were grounded in expertise accumulated in the early twentieth century in forestry, wood chemistry and materials science. Already in its first year of operation, the...

In Latvia, Sosnowsky’s hogweed ( Heracleum sosnowskyi) has for decades been regarded as one of the most problematic invasive plant species. It threatens local ecosystems, poses risks to human health, and requires continuous control efforts. This widely recognised issue became the focus of a scientific research project by Katrīna Grīnfīlde, an 11th-grade student at Riga Āgenskalns State Gymnasium, who approached hogweed from a different perspective—that of materials science. In her study, Katrīna investigated whether Sosnowsky’s hogweed could be used in mycelium composites, which worldwide are...