Insights

In the workspace of Mg. chem. Laima Vēvere, a researcher at the Polymer Laboratory of the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry (LSIWC) and a senior expert at the Latvian Council of Science, alongside test tubes, equipment, scientific papers, samples, and notes, there is always also Kevin Polymer — a playful laboratory symbol that colleagues jokingly call the main influencer. It is a small reminder that science is not only about formulas, but also about environment, people, and attitude. It is no coincidence that Kevin resides in Laima’s laboratory. For more than 10 years, Laima has been...

PhD Miķelis Kirpļuks is a leading researcher at the Polymer Laboratory of the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry (LSIWC) and an internationally cited scientist (h-index 27). His work focuses on the development of rigid polyurethane foams from renewable and recycled resources, including vegetable oils, tall oil fractions, and recycled PET. He is involved in the full material development cycle – from the chemical modification of raw materials and experimental design to material testing and the assessment of technology scale-up potential. Currently, he leads the POLYMERS-5B project work...

This February, the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry marks its 80th anniversary. To mark the occasion, we have created a short visual carousel reflecting how the Institute’s research has been portrayed in the press from 1946 to 2025. The selection features February publications from different years — only a small part of a much broader media presence: from forest regeneration and lignin chemistry to densified wood, bio-based polyurethanes, cryogenic insulation for space applications, and birch bark extractives.

The professional path of Dr. chem. Ingeborga Andersone has been closely intertwined with the times of change in Latvian science and with long-term, patient work in wood research. For more than 40 years, she has worked at the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry together with her husband, Dr. chem. Bruno Andersons, Head of the Laboratory of Wood Degradation and Protection, studying the durability of wood, its protection, and its use in construction, the living environment, and cultural heritage. The name of Ingeborga Andersone, laureate of the Arvīds Kalniņš Award, was also highlighted in...

This week, within the framework of the ARMS project, an interview was published with Dr.sc.ing. Aleksandrs Voļperts, researcher at the Laboratory of Lignin Chemistry of the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry. In the Beyond the Lab Coat series, the project partners introduce the scientists working on next-generation supercapacitor materials. Our colleague Aleksandrs shares his path into science, his motivation, and why research continues to surprise and inspire him. Did you dream of becoming a scientist as a child? Honestly, I do not remember wanting to be anything when I was just a kid...

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...