News

Today, on March 14, as part of RTU Career Days 2025, our young scientists—Ph.D. Daniela Godiņa, Mg.chem. Laima Vēvere, and Ph.D. Ralfs Pomilovskis—answered visitors’ questions about science, innovative materials, and career opportunities at LSIWC: • How wood chemistry is changing the world – from eco-friendly composite materials to future technologies. • How young people can get involved in our research projects. • What the TOMPosite project is and how we develop composite materials from renewable resources. • What career and research opportunities are available at the institute, as well as...

On March 13, 2025, the LSIWC hosted a Cleantech Latvia members’ meeting aimed at fostering collaboration between businesses and technology transfer organizations. The goal was to strengthen the innovation ecosystem within the clean technology sector. During the event, LSIWC scientists introduced cluster members to the institute’s latest research and its practical applications. From the Laboratory to Space: Cryogenic Insulation in the Ariane-6 Launch Vehicle In his presentation “Cryogenic Insulation: From Theoretical Models to the Latvian Flag on Europe’s Next-Generation Ariane-6 Launch Vehicle...

Researcher Ilze Irbe and her team have developed mycelium composite granules, which have been awarded the Grand Prix by the World Packaging Organization. “The mycelium composite material is cultivated using a bracket fungus found in Latvian forests. The cultivation process utilizes the hyphae, or filaments, of the variegated bracket fungus,” reports a TV3 news correspondent. “We grow the mycelium, which resembles white fuzz, in liquid culture within flasks. Once fully grown, we transfer it into bags containing substrate,” explains Ilze. “The mycelium of the variegated bracket fungus thrives on...

Have you ever wondered how water filters, air purifiers, and even cosmetics effectively capture and retain unwanted substances? The secret lies in activated carbon—a material that acts like a sponge, trapping pollutants. But how do scientists determine how well this material performs? The answer lies in sorptometry studies—a method used to analyze the porosity, adsorption capacity, and efficiency of carbon materials. Dr. sci. ing. Aleksandrs Volperts from the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry has improve this method, making it even more precise for testing carbon-based materials. But...

On March 6, the University of Latvia’s House of Sciences hosted the Icebreakers’25 Business Opportunities Festival, bringing together students, scientists, and entrepreneurs to promote idea exchange, innovation, and collaboration across academic, public, and private sectors. Representing the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry (LSIWC), our researcher Ph.D. Daniela Godiņa presented on “Green Innovations: How the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry is Shaping the Future,” highlighting the institute’s commitment to developing sustainable innovations and fostering collaboration between...

We are delighted to announce that today, February 28, 2025, our researchers were honored at the Latvian Academy of Sciences’ ceremony recognizing the most significant scientific achievements of 2024. Our Polymer Laboratory, led by Academician Dr. sc. ing. Ugis Cabulis, was acknowledged for developing an advanced cryogenic insulation material, which has been successfully used for the thermal insulation of fuel tanks in the European Space Agency - ESA latest launch vehicle, Ariane6. The construction of space rockets requires special innovations in materials science, as liquid hydrogen and oxygen...