|
Hon’ble DG (F) and DG (ICFRE)
cutting the tape to inaugurate the Woods Museum and
Interpretation Centre
A Woods Museum cum
Interpretation Centre (WMIC) has been established at
Institute of Wood Science and Technology, Bangalore. Since
nowhere in the country, a woods museum cum interpretation
centre to provide information and details of all aspects of
wood as a material and importance of wood science and
technology is available in the country, developing this
centre was conceptualized. The woods museum cum
interpretation (WMIC) centre was inaugurated by Dr. P.J.
Dilip Kumar, IFS, DG Forests and Special Secretary, MoEF,
Government of India in the presence of Dr. V.K.Bahuguna, IFS
DG, ICFRE on 4th Jan 2012. The WMIC is unconventionally
structured and strongly deviates from being merely a
storehouse of artifacts. It aims to educate the common man
on the science of wood; on the fact that wood is not just a
carpenter’s material; to make him realize that it is the
usage of wood that would help in tidying the environment and
tiding over the climate crisis.
The salient features of the
museum are:
-
Right
from origin of Earth to evolution of forests and trees
to emergence of most recent trees and accordingly vast
diversity of woods has been clearly demonstrated and
displayed.
-
Colorful panels take the visitor into the world of wood.
A story line entwines him beginning from the evolution
of woody trees, through ecosystem functions of trees,
and the man–wood saga.
-
Later,
wood is systematically dissected from its macro form to
cell ultra structure and constituent chemicals.
-
The
later section is dedicated to different properties and
features like density, color, knots, spiral grains, etc.
-
A
section is dedicated to agencies causing biological
degradation of wood. An attractive part of the WMIC
deals with diverse products of wood.
-
There
is a highly informative segment on wood processing.
Interesting panels on tracking past events through the
study of tree rings, engineered wood products, etc., are
also there.
-
The
last section suggests why society should promote wood
use to make life sustainable; it ends with a slogan –
grow wood, use wood.
-
Among
the many artifacts kept, two large discs of teak form
the centre of attraction. One of the discs traces the
time since British came to India till Indian
Independence. There is a wonderful opportunity for
visitors to learn to count tree rings.
-
Bamboo,
commonly known as poors man timber, has versatile uses.
Its utilization aspects are also displayed in the museum
in the form of decorative form.
-
A model
shows how rural energy needs could be met by generating
electricity from gasifying wood. A large log eaten by
many different kinds of insects goes to show how small
creatures fall a giant. Diversity of insects, papers and
engineered wood products strike the visitor.
-
There
is a full section showing modern products of wood-Wood
Polymer Composites, panel and engineered wood products.
-
Wood-polymers composite samples, the important and
advanced material, are also displayed in the WMIC.
-
Given
the shortage of supply alternate woods have been widely
created. Wood product made of plantation timber species-
Acacia auriculaeformis, Acacia mangium like toys,
artifacts and catamaran (Maesopsis eminii) are also
displayed.
-
Due to
large demand of wood, timber is being imported. In the
process, this is resulting in selling the spurious
material like Assam Teak, Malaysian sal etc. In one of
the sections of museum, impact of spurious material is
displayed.
-
In
another section, how climate change has affected the
natural resources like forest and the role wood can play
in the changing climatic conditions is displayed.
The visitor is exposed to the
many facets of wood – its history, anatomy, diversity in
properties, processing, products, problems, solutions and
many other nuances. The visitor takes leave with a note on
the projected role of wood in future – a role to save Earth…
|
Welcome to Woods
Museum and interpretation Centre – A new initiative
by IWST, Bangalore. This is meant to show case the
sum and substance of Wood Research as also the
Forestry Science in the country from a utilitarian
and social perspective. Here the ideas are depicted
through interactive displays along with the models
and specimens of educational importance. The Museum
is in its formative stages and suggestions and
inputs by way of wood specimens and products (old or
new) depicting its utilities through ancient and
modern ages is heartily welcome. It will add to the
depth of the content and variety in our endeavour to
highlight the adage WOOD is GOOD in all eras, even
in this modern age of steel and concrete. Your help
is solicited to make the museum a unique collection
of wood in its best splendour and elegance and as
the best gift of nature to humanity. Your product
and donation will be duly recognized and
acknowledged.
You may please contact
us with the details of what you may contribute along
with a photograph of the same if it is a wood
product, before sending it to us. Please write to us in
the address given below
The Director
Institute of Wood
Science and Technology,
18th Cross,
Malleshwaram, Bangalore - 560003
Phone:
0091-80-22190101
Fax:
0091-80-23340529
or
Please mail to us
dir_iwst@icfre.org , |
|
