Next course
is fully booked – waiting list operating
COVID impact - next course postponed to 2022
Trustees
of the JW Gottstein Memorial Trust Fund have moved the upcoming Understanding
Wood Science course to a new date proposed in April 2022 from November 2021.
This disruption is again due to the COVID-19 pandemic which continues to affect
Australia domestic travel and gatherings. The new dates proposed are Sunday
evening 3rd April 2022 to Friday afternoon 8th April 2022.
The draft program of speakers and field trips remains the
same as was set - however some variations may be necessary. A final program
will be provided to course attendees before the course starts. The program will
also be updated on the website for those who wish to download it.
About the course
There is a wonderful line-up of guest
presenters and field trip site visits to leading Australian operations.
Timber processors strive to satisfy
stringent market demands. A lot of knowledge, expertise and information is
needed in order to successfully manage variable raw material supply volumes;
variable raw material (wood) characteristics which in turn impact yields and
cost of processing; and the wider Australian and international market dynamics
(raw material supply/demand/price and ditto for end products) which their
businesses face.
Integral to managing the many
challenges – is an appreciation of wood science and technology and the new
techniques being introduced. This Gottstein Trust Wood Science Course of five
days duration is designed to provide such information. The course may even
assist some decision makers in the industry to gain greater efficiency in their
operations – through access to subject matter experts, field trip inspections
and through the course networking opportunities.
Wood products are recognised as
carbon friendly. Yet ironically in Australia, there is still decreasing
availability of various types of timber from some regions and changes in
quality from others. A clear understanding of timber users’ final requirements
is essential for those who process timber. Their customers’ requirements may be
for high quality appearance grade products, or for a uniform quality but lower
cost product. The magic lies in understanding each variety and style of timber
(the raw material) to ensure efficient conversion of the raw material into a
marketable and fit for purpose product.
Objectives
- Provide an understanding of wood and the properties which affect processing and end-use.
- Provide insights into the potential for development of new products.
- Provide an appreciation of contemporary issues including innovation, technology and supply/demand trends for wood products.
Next Course – April 2022 – fully
booked
It will be held over one week –
running from Sunday evening 3rd April to Friday afternoon 8th April 2022.
The first two days will be based at
Albury with a great program of field trip activities into northern Victoria.
Participants will then travel by luxury coach to Canberra for the second leg of
the course.
The Canberra leg of the course will
be three days, following on from that two day field trip. It will take place on the Australian National University (ANU) campus at the Fenner School of Environment and Society, in Australia’s beautiful
national capital city. The Gottstein Trust is indebted to the ANU for its
generous support of the course.
Course Program
The program for April 2022 is packed with learning and networking experiences. A
key feature is a new extended field trip that runs over two days. The formal
course dinner will also be a highlight – celebrating the 50th Anniversary of
the Trust Fund which honours Bill Gottstein, who was an outstanding man.
To Register
Online registration will remain open until the course
becomes fully booked. Course numbers are limited so early booking is always
good idea.
Please note the Trust does not have the facility for online payment for this
course. Payment by direct deposit or cheque are accepted. The online
registration section provides a Tax Invoice and we will provide a receipt for
payment.
Who Should Attend
Senior and potential managers,
operational team members, tree growers, industry and government policy people,
consultants, executives, non-executive directors and service providers within
the forest and wood products supply chain. The course will be of particular
relevance to those who may have recently joined the industry.
Why You Should Attend
You will gain a deeper understanding
of wood science and key features of the modern wood products industry – this
will be an asset in your professional work environment. This course should also
assist you to place your operation within a national and international context.
In order to facilitate informal
exchange and discussion, the course is limited to a maximum 35 participants.
Invited Speakers
The 2022 course will feature guest presenters
with deep experience in the industry. Speakers typically donate their time and
expertise to the Gottstein Trust courses and the Trust is indebted to them for
such generous support.
Accommodation
The Registration fee includes accommodation in Albury for two nights Sunday 3rd and Monday 4th April 2022 and all Albury meals from Sunday dinner through to afternoon tea
on Tuesday 5th April 2022. The registration fee does not
include accommodation in Canberra for the three
nights Tuesday 5th, Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th April 2022.
For the course segment that is
held in Canberra, we make arrangements for participants and speakers to be able
to stay at a good rate at a hotel near the Australian National University
campus. Participants are notified of the hotel well ahead of the start of the
course to enable them to confirm a room. While it is not compulsory to stay at
the one hotel – it is a great aid to us if you do. In Canberra
participants are required to confirm and pay for their own accommodation and
any meals which are not part of the course program.
If there are any local Canberra field
trips in a course program, these always begin and end at our course
accommodation venue or from ANU. There are no other pick up or set down
options.