Tuuli Virkkala wins the Boreal Alliance award at NWBC

Boreal Alliance network announced an award for an outstanding presentation given by an early-stage researcher at NWBC 2022 in the field of science and technology of forest products industries. The award was given to a novel approach that promotes development of forest-based bioeconomy, with an emphasis on the scientific excellence and collaboration aspects of the work.

NWBC pitch awardees (from left to right): Cláudia Esteves (RISE), Tuuli Virkkala (VTT) and Elisa Spönla (VTT).

The Nordic Wood Biorefinery Conference (NWBC) presenting the latest discoveries and innovations in bio-based materials, chemicals, and products from wood biorefineries was held in Helsinki, 25-27 October 2022. During the conference, students had a great opportunity to participate in a pitching program and give a pitch presentation. The best pitches were awarded.

Boreal Alliance Award

Boreal Alliance network announced an award for an outstanding presentation given by an early-stage researcher at NWBC 2022 in the field of science and technology of forest products industries. The award was given to a novel approach that promotes development of forest-based bioeconomy, with an emphasis on the scientific excellence and collaboration aspects of the work. The prize, sponsored by the FinnCERES Flagship, amounts to 1000 EUR and was awarded to doctoral candidate Tuuli Virkkala, VTT on the pitch presentation "Bioinspired structures based on mixed-linkage glucan and nanoselluloce interactions". Her presentation was considered outstanding with a high level of scientific novelty. The pitch was both easy to follow while still explaining the science behind. Tuuli showed a good understanding of the work by being able to give an excellent answer for a rather challenging question posed by the jury. Tuuli's poster gained lot of interest during the conference. Tuuli is inspired by native structures of plant cell walls and her work aims at valorization of hemicelluloses and nanocellulose in novel material applications.

The Johan Gullichsen Award Finnish Forest Products Engineers’ Association grants this award for a meritorious presentation in the field of science and technology of forest products industries presented in the PhD student pitching at NWBC 2022. The prize amounts to 3000 EUR. The award was given to Elisa Spönla, VTT for her presentation “Enzymatic high-consistency processing of softwood and eucalyptus kraft pulps for textile fibres”

Birch plate The jury wanted to give a special recognition for an excellent pitch presentation to Cláudia Esteves, RISE on “Oxygen lignification: improving pulp properties with less energy”. She was presenting a realistic approach to tackle the energy demand challenges while improving the paper strength and she did her presentation in a clear and inspiring fashion. Cláudia received a “Risteys” Crossing wooden plate that has been designed for the 100th anniversary of Finland. The crossing lines represent cooperation which was essential in rebuilding Finland.

Source: VTT