Category Archives: events

Presentation seminar for the EMERGE and SYLVABIOM projects

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You are cordially invited to attend all or part of this presentation seminar supported by Labex ARBRE

Conference room at INRA Nancy center, Champenoux

18 September 2013, 10h00 – 18h00
19 September 2013,  8h30 – 16h00

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Agenda

Wednesday – September 18, 2013

10h Welcome coffee
10h30 – 11h30Outline of Emerge, objectives and database.
11h30 -13h : Volume models : total volume, stem volume, coefficients of expansion, bark coefficients.
13h-14h :  Lunch break at the cantine
14h-14h30 : Initial context perspectives : resource potential, population potential
14h30-15h30 : Scanner and fresh weight density
15h30-16h:  Coffee break
16h-18h : Ground-based laser and outdoor demo followed by ;

  • volume estimations and biomechanics
  • uses pertaining to stock
  • Computree project platform and algorithmic developments

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Thursday,  September 19, 2013

8h30-10h : Models of biomass and mineralomass
10h-10h30 : Coffee break
10h30-13h : Sylvabiom

  • Context and results of TtCR production of Poplars, Willow and Black Locust over four seasons of vegetation.
  • Variability and plasticity of the efficiency of the use of water and nitrogen in the Willow family grown in TtCR.
  • DNA Methylation, a descriptor of suitability for producing biomass in TtCR

13h-14h : Lunch break in the cantine
14h-16h : Sylvabiom : potential for total biomass production of fast-growing woody species cultivated in short-rotation trees.

16h-16h30 :  Coffee break and closing

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Science, precautionary principles, place of the future

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Francis Martin, Director of LabEx ARBRE and researcher with the IAM unit, participated recently in a meeting with the President of the Republic and the Ministers in charge of research and ecology. The meeting was entitled “Science, precautionary principles, place of the future”.

At a luncheon, five researchers were invited to give their views on the consequences of the application of the principle of precaution on scientific activities in different fields: biology, genetic, ecology, climate change and nuclear physics. Exchanges were designed to support the reflection of the Executive office on the implementation of this principle written into law February 2, 1995.

Joining Francis Martin were guests Edouard Brézin (physicist, president of the Academy of Sciences), Gilles Bœuf (biologist, president of the national Museum of natural history), Jean Jouzel (climatologist, Chairman of the High Council on science and technology) and Eva Pebay-Peyroula (biologist, former President of the ANR). The Ministers in charge of higher education and research (Geneviève Fioraso) and ecology (Philippe Martin) also attended the meeting which took place on Tuesday, August 20 at the Elysee.

An INRA-JGI Bastille Day tribute!

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In the spirit of Bastille Day, longtime collaborator Francis Martin, head of the Lab of Excellence for Advanced Research on the Biology of Tree and Forest Ecosystems at INRA, the French National Institute of Agricultural Research, enthuses (in French with English subtitles) about the Joint Genome Institute’s contributions to the field of fungal genomics.

http://today.lbl.gov/2013/07/12/bastille-day-special-vive-la-collaboration-scientifique/

Highly Cited Researcher

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Antonio Pizzi, a researcher in industrial chemistry with LERMAB (Laboratory of Studies and Research on Wood Material), was given for 2012-2013 the prestigious title of ‘Highly Cited Researchers’. Ranked 46th in the world of researchers in materials science, he is the first scientist from the University of Lorraine to rank inernationally as among the most cited researchers.

Each year, Thomson ISI Web of Science publishes the classification of the “Highly Cited Researchers”. This ranking highlights 250 academics in the world whose research is most frequently cited in other research articles across 21 thematic areas and over a period of 20 years. The “score” is an important measure for the researcher’s impact  at the global level and validates recognition of their work.

The research challenges for Antonio Pizzi are concentrated principally on the development of materials for industrial use made from natural materials and which are environmentally sound.  With this goal, the most notable developments that have led to international scientific awards are: plant adhesives derived from the bark of trees (used for the manufacture of wood panels), preservatives wood Biobased and ecological, natural fibre composites and insulation and floral foams based vegetable tannin. At the international level, Antonio Pizzi is recognized as the leading scientific expert in adhesives and wood adhesives. He is cited in particular for his part in the innovative discovery of welding for wood through friction (without glue). This unique method of assembling wood is of particular interest to the furniture industry and  interior carpentry.

His most cited publication (the first in this field) on chemical analysis allowing for the detection of changes in wood for treatment through heat  – a process widely used today in the industrial sector.

Research conducted by Antonio Pizzi has played an important role in the ambitious process of establishing the Lorraine region as a “European Valley of natural materials and energy”. His work also lends itself to the prioritized areas of research put forward in the convention 2013-2017 by the Lorraine region promoting public research of energy and engineering.

Contact : antonio.pizzi@univ-lorraine.fr

Les enseignants en forêt

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Dans le cadre de l’offre de formations proposée par la Maison pour la Science et la Technologie Lorraine, ARBRE accueille les 2 et 4 avril 2013 sur le campus INRA de Champenoux 15 enseignants de primaire, pour une initiation à la démarche scientifique autour de l’écosystème forestier. La formation proposée a été construite en partenariat avec le Centre Permanent d’Initiatives pour l’Environnement Nancy Champenoux et la Maison Départemental de l’Environnement.

Les enseignants sont mis en situation d’observation de deux parcelles forestières (1ère demi-journée). En quoi sont-elles différentes ? Cette première étape les conduit à poser toutes les questions/hypothèses qui leur viennent à l’esprit. S’en suit alors un temps d’échange avec les formateurs pour discuter de ces différentes hypothèses et imaginer des pistes/approches pour tester ces hypothèses (2ème demi-journée). Cette demi-journée est aussi consacrée à une présentation par un chercheur INRA d’un projet de recherche en lien avec la problématique générale, et à la formalisation d’un nombre plus restreint de questions de recherche, pouvant donner lieu à un travail ultérieur en ateliers. Le 2ème jour est consacré à la découverte d’un autre type d’écosystème – un espace naturel sensible –, et des approches permettant de décrire la biodiversité d’un milieu. Au cours du troisième jour, le travail en ateliers alterne avec des apports de connaissances dispensés par des scientifiques du domaine. A partir des connaissances acquises et des ressources mises à disposition, il s’agit pour les enseignants de proposer des hypothèses en réponse aux questions posées le 1er jour. A la fin du 3ème jour, chaque groupe présente aux autres le fruit de sa réflexion sous forme d’un poster. Le 4ème jour est consacré à la construction de séquences pédagogiques permettant de répondre à chacune des questions dans l’objectif de tester chacune des hypothèses avec une classe. Ce travail est encadré par un maître formateur de l’IUFM.

Tous nos remerciements à Jean Garbaye, Yves Lefèvre et Laurent Saint-André

Avec le soutien de : 

   

EFI 20 Years Science and Policy Forum

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EFI 20 Years Science and Policy Forum to be held in Nancy, France on 23–27 September 2013: ‘Our forests in the 21st century – ready for risks and opportunities?’

Also, the website of the EFI 20th Anniversary has been opened at: http://www.efi.int/portal/efi20years/

In addition to the website on the EFI 2013 Annual Conference, you can also find information on the EFI 20th Anniversary Photo Contest, celebrating the beauty and unique character of your favourite forests. More information on the photo contest is available at: http://www.efi.int/portal/efi20years/photo_contest/

I would kindly encourage you to get acquainted with the EFI 20th Anniversary website before the registration to the Annual Conference opens in late April. And while waiting for the registration to open, you have a great opportunity to start entering the first of your best photos on your favourite forests.