The 13ᵉ GDR Wood Science – Scientific Days took place in Nantes from November 20 to 22, 2024, bringing together over 250 participants from research, industry and academia.
The event consolidated the links between science and business, while promoting innovations in the field of wood science.

Scientific and collaborative highlights

The days were marked by :

80 scientific posters offering a panorama of current research. Nine prizes were awarded for the best contributions, including the ESB student prize awarded to Christophe Belloncle for his work on the survival of multi-resistant bacteria on different types of wood.

Prestigious plenary lectures including :

• Christine Deleuze (ONF) on the forest-wood industry,
• Pierre Blanchet (Laval University) on the role of sustainable construction,
• Mark Irle (ESB/FCBA) on the circularity of materials.

Five thematic workshops also enabled participants to explore a variety of fields, including acoustics, robotics and wood species recognition using innovative tools.

A bridge between science and business

This 2024 edition innovated with a morning dedicated to dialogue between researchers and industry. These exchanges led to promising synergies around the concrete solutions offered by wood science.

Participants also visited emblematic local companies such as Piveteau, Bénéteau and Ateliers Perrault, testifying to the dynamism of the wood industry in the region.

The ESB Xylotheque, a treasure trove for research

The highlight of the event was the presentation of the ESB Xylothèque, with its 2,000 species of wood, demonstrating the importance of this unique collection for research and innovation.

Many thanks to all the organizers, speakers and participants for the success of this event, which illustrates the richness of international and interdisciplinary collaboration in the wood sciences.