This blog post explores how wood is utilized across various industries through environmental materials science and its contributions to protecting ecosystems.
What materials have been used the longest and most widely throughout human history? Probably stone and wood. Wood, in particular, is not only crucial for construction and civil engineering but also a vital resource as the material for paper. Beyond this, wood is utilized in numerous ways across various industries, and its importance continues to grow daily. Recently, there has been an increase in cases where useful chemicals are extracted from various tree species for commercial use. The value of wood extends far beyond its physical properties; the biological resources provided by trees and forests are also boundless. Hearing the name “Environmental Materials Science” might make you wonder what material this major studies in engineering. That material is ‘wood’. In other words, Environmental Materials Science is the field that studies the physical and chemical properties of wood and its applications.
So, what kind of engineering does one learn using wood? Beyond architecture, civil engineering, and papermaking, few other fields immediately come to mind. At best, perhaps furniture might be added to the list? However, wood can be utilized in far more diverse fields than one might imagine. Paper is made by pulping wood into a fine pulp, and understanding the physical and chemical properties of wood is crucial in this process. Moreover, the largest industry utilizing wood is the paper industry itself. Within the curriculum, paper engineering is one of the most emphasized areas, covering everything from the fundamental properties of wood to complex chemical treatment processes.
Wood-based construction and furniture manufacturing also hold significant importance within Environmental Materials Science. Wood construction encompasses diverse fields we commonly encounter, such as saunas, forest bathing facilities, and wood resorts within recreational forests. Wood flooring is also gaining prominence as an alternative to vinyl flooring, making an understanding of wood crucial in this field. The furniture, flooring, and musical instrument manufacturing industries, utilizing wood, boast a scale comparable to the paper industry, necessitating a deep understanding of wood’s characteristics. However, the utilization of wood doesn’t end there. The waste generated during the processing of raw timber is used to make plywood, and its range of applications is extremely broad.
Furthermore, the biological utilization of forest resources is a vital area within environmental materials science. For instance, diverse microorganisms inhabiting trees and forests provide compounds that humans can utilize beneficially. Examples include salicylic acid extracted from willow trees, phytoncides from recreational forests, and taxol obtained from yew trees. These compounds are not only used as pharmaceuticals but also serve various industrial purposes. Methanol obtained through the fermentation of wood and natural rubber harvested from rubber trees are also important resources. Furthermore, environmental materials science can contribute to solving environmental problems through these resources. For instance, utilizing microorganisms that decompose hydrocarbons in crude oil during oil spills or researching water purification systems using microorganisms are part of this field.
Thus, environmental materials science is a discipline that not only studies the physical and chemical properties of wood and applies them to everyday life but also seeks ways to utilize the entire forest ecosystem. It covers the use of wood and its by-products, the biological and chemical utilization of forest resources, and the management and conservation of the forest resources themselves. Graduates of Environmental Materials Science can pursue careers as architectural engineers responsible for the design and construction of timber structures, technicians in paper mills, or skilled technicians equipped with the specialized knowledge required for the design and manufacture of musical instruments or furniture. They may also advance to graduate school to become experts researching the diverse biological and chemical resources derived from wood and forest resources.
Thus, Environmental Materials Science is a discipline that plays a crucial role both academically and in everyday life. The knowledge and skills learned through this major significantly contribute to the essential resource management and utilization in modern society. Even at this very moment, I am writing at a desk touched by Environmental Materials Science. This desk itself is a product of thoroughly understanding the physical properties of wood and processing it appropriately.
