Our program is currently being developed and will be updated regularly as new information becomes available. We aim to provide an engaging schedule featuring inspiring keynote speakers, insightful presentations, and dynamic discussions on the latest advancements in polymer science. Below you are welcome to see our plenary speakers and already registered topics for oral and poster presentations.
Plenary lectures
Topic: Bring New Value from The Forest and Field
Name: Prof. Arthur Jonas Ragauskas from University of Tennessee, USA
About: Prof. Arthur Ragauskas is a leading expert in biorefining and renewable biomaterials. He holds the Governor’s Chair at the University of Tennessee, with joint roles in chemical engineering, forestry, and biosciences at ORNL. A Fulbright Chair and Fellow of AAAS, TAPPI, and the International Academy of Wood Science, he focuses on advancing sustainable bioresources for fuels, materials, and chemicals. His research, supported by major US science agencies and industry partners, has led to over 770 peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Ragauskas has received numerous honors, including the TAPPI Gunnar Nicholson Gold Medal, AIChE Green Processing Award, and the 2022 RSC Environment Prize. He leads a dynamic team of students and scientists driving innovation in the circular bioeconomy.
Topic: Polymer nanofibres for filtration, separation, and beyond
Name: Prof. Dainius Martuzevicius from Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania
About: Dainius Martuzevičius is a professor at Kaunas University of Technology and a leading researcher specializing in aerosol science, environmental technologies, and advanced polymeric materials. His research is focused on developing polymer-based nanofibrous structures for air filtration, aerosol sampling, and targeted biological applications, particularly in life sciences. Recent projects have included the development of polymeric scaffolds for cell-based toxicity testing, bio-based filtration systems for medical applications, and nanostructured polymer materials for controlled drug delivery. Prof. Martuzevičius has authored over 100 peer-reviewed articles and holds multiple patents on polymer-based filtration and biomedical testing technologies. He is actively engaged in international collaborations aimed at advancing polymeric materials and their integration into environmental, biomedical, and public health solutions.
Topic: Bio-based and sustainable solutions for energy storage and energy harvesting
Name: Dr. Illia Dobryden from Research Institutes of Sweden, Sweden
About: Dr. Illia Dobryden is a Senior Researcher and Project Leader at the Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE) in Stockholm. His work focuses on the development of novel sustainable materials and technologies for energy harvesting and energy storage. Dr. Dobryden leads research activities in the field of bio-based and sustainable binders for lithium-ion batteries (LiBs), aiming to replace conventional fossil-derived binders. Dr. Dobryden is also engaged in work on the valorization of biomass for the preparation of anode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SiBs). In addition, his research explores the use of biopolymers for advanced functional applications, including the exploitation of piezoelectric and triboelectric effects for energy harvesting. Through close collaboration with both small enterprises and large industrial partners, Dr. Dobryden actively supports the transition of these innovations from laboratory research to real-world applications.
Topic: Versatile roles of birch bark suberinic acids: from wood adhesives to polymer building blocks
Name: Dr. Janis Rizikovs from Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, Latvia
About: Dr. Janis Rizikovs is a leading researcher at the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry and chair of its Scientific Council. His work focuses on sustainable processing of biomass—especially birch bark—to create high-value compounds like betulin and suberinic acids, used in cosmetics, adhesives, and wood composites.
He has led key European projects like VIOBOND and BarkBuild, developing eco-friendly adhesives and moisture-resistant materials. As the driving force behind BetulinLab and Suberbinder technologies, Dr. Rizikovs bridges science and commercialization. He also serves on national and EU scientific committees and has received awards including the Golden Pine Cone for his impact in wood chemistry.
Topic: Scientific and technical basis of a resource-saving method of processing thermo-resistant polymer composites for tribotechnical purposes
Name: Prof. Oleh Kabat from Ukrainian State University of Chemical Technology, Ukraine
About: Prof. Oleh Kabat is a specialist in polymer and composite materials with over two decades of experience in engineering and applied research. He holds a Doctor of Technical Sciences degree and currently leads the Department of Innovation Engineering at the Ukrainian State University of Science and Technologies. Prof. Kabat combines expertise in mechanical and agricultural engineering with deep knowledge of polymer technologies. He has held academic roles across multiple institutions and is actively engaged in developing innovative materials and teaching the next generation of engineers. His work focuses on bridging science and industry through practical applications of advanced composites.
Topic: Polymers from natural resources: the strength of polysaccharides, raw material platforms for a wide range of applications
Name: Prof. Nicolas Joly from Université d’Artois, IUT de Béthune, France
About: Nicolas Joly received his Ph.D. from the University of Limoges (Limoges, France) in
2003. His work was dedicated to the chemical modifications of cellulose, more
precisely to the crosslinking of cellulose by olefin metathesis. In 2004, He became
Assistant Professor with the “Institut Universitaire de Technologie” of Béthune
(University of Artois, France), and was promoted Professor in 2012 in the same
University. Since 2004, His research activities are mainly focused on bio-based
plastics and composites, obtained by chemistry of natural polysaccharides such as
cellulose, starch, inulin, chitin and chitosan. He also work on eco-extraction of
biomolecules from agricultural or food industry byproducts, especially for antioxidant
applications or biocontrol. He has joined the Transformations & Agroressources Unit,
Artois site (ULR7519) in 2018
Oral presentations
| Title | Author full name | Affiliation |
| Environmental assessment of aza-michael donors based used cooking oil for reprocessable thermoset polymers | Anda Fridrihsone | Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry |
| Designing lignin properties for targeted use in bio-based functional materials | Anete Aunbaum | University of Tartu, Institute of Chemistry, Wood Chemistry and Lignin Laboratory |
| Valorization of used cooking oil into aza-michael donors for reprocessable thermoset polymers. | Arnis Abolins | Polymer Laboratory, Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry |
| Acquiring new value from the forests | Arthur Ragauskas | University of Tennessee, Knoxville |
| Functional characterization of acetylated-, succinylated- , and dual-modified potato peel starches | Ayodeji Emmanuel Amobonye | Kaunas University of Technology |
| Polymer nanofibres for filtration, separation, and beyond | Dainius Martuzevicius | Kaunas University of Technology |
| Towards safe and sustainable building: reclaimed timber for structural use | Francisco Tienda Resendez | Tallinn University of Technology |
| Bio-based and sustainable solutions for energy storage and energy harvesting | Illia Dobryden | Division of Sustainable Materials and Packaging, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Malvinas väg 3, SE-114 86, Stockholm |
| Versatile roles of birch bark suberinic acids: from wood adhesives to polymer building blocks | Janis Rizikovs | Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry |
| Lignin valorization via chloromethylation as a versatile approach towards sustainable materials | Mahendra Kothottil Mohan | Taltech |
| Spotlight on green: green climate & ecological transition, green chemistry in polymer science, environmentally friendly processing & recyclability. Myth or reality? | Marc Jean Médard Abadie | Institute Charles Gerhardt Montpellier ICGM |
| Design and characterisation of bio-based β-amino polyester resins with reprocessable thermoset behaviour | Mikelis Kirpluks | Latvian State Institute Of Wood Chemistry |
| Polymers from natural resources: the strength of polysaccharides, raw material platforms for a wide range of applications | Nicolas Joly | Unité Transformations & Agroressources |
| Scientific and technical basis of a resource-saving method of processing thermo-resistant polymer composites for tribotechnical purposes | Oleh Kabat | University of Science and Technologies |
| Characterisation of thermoplastic starch composites with bio-based additives for foaming applications | Remo Merijs-Meri | Riga Technical University, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, Institute of Chemistry and Chemical Technology |
| Synthesis and properties of one component cardanol-type renewable material use in sealant industry | Ritvars Bērziņš | Riga Technical University, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, Institute of Chemistry and Chemical Technology |
| Lignocellulose-based biocomposites and 3d-printed bio-resins | Sergejs Gaidukovs | Riga Technical university |
| Effect of drying methods on the morphological and functional properties of cellulose ester films | Tanuj Kattamanchi | Tallinn University of Technology |
| Taltech wood valorisation hub | Viktoria Gudkova | Tallinn University of Technology, WoodValHUB |
Poster presentations
| Title | Author name | Affiliation |
| Dibenzothiophene or spiro[1,3-dithiolane-2,9′-fluorene]-based glass-forming hole-transporting compounds for perovskite solar cells | Adnan Ahmed | Department of Polymer Chemistry and Technology, Kaunas University of Technology (KTU). |
| Effect of suberin depolymerization conditions on the flammability and thermal stability of rigid polyurethane foams | Aiga Ivdre | Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, Polymer Laboratory |
| Efficiency behaviour of pla/wood composites extruded with an intensive mixing and compression screw zone | Aneta Tor-Świątek | Lublin University of Technology |
| Rheological properties of fatty acid cellulose esters synthesised by reactive extrusion | Anna Ilnitskaja | Tallinn University of Technology, Department of Materials and Environmental Technology, Laboratory of Biopolymer Technology |
| Functionalization of softwood sawdust generated from pine wood honeycomb production for obtaining environmentally friendly composite materials based on recycled polypropylene | Anrijs Verovkins | Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, Laboratory of lignin chemistry |
| Antimicrobial biobased vitrimers for lcd 3d printing | Aukse Navaruckiene | Department of Polymer Chemistry and Technology, Kaunas University of Technology |
| Depolymerization of polyurethane foam waste with diethylene glycol and tall oil-based polyols | Beatrise Sture-Skela | Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry |
| Development of bio-based lignin-furfural adhesives using deep eutectic solvents | Evelin Solomina | Tallinn University of Technology, Dpt. of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Analytical Chemistry Laboratory |
| Cellulose in choline chloride-based deep eutectic solvents: dissolution, regeneration, and acetylation | Gretel Brus | Tallinn University of Technology, Department of Materials and Environmental Technology, Laboratory of Biopolymer Technology |
| Phenolation-assisted depolymerization of hydrolysis lignin for functional material development | Jan Markus Bachmann | University of Tartu, Institute of Chemistry, Wood Chemistry and Lignin Laboratory |
| Development of bio-based epoxy composite for fbg sensor embedding in asphalt concrete for structural health monitoring | Jānis Zicāns | Riga Technical University, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, Institute of Chemistry and Chemical Technology |
| Valorization of mechanically recycled textile fibers into nonwoven materials with various compositions | Katre Worth | Taltech, Department of Materials and Environmental Technology, Laboratory of Textile Technology |
| Ultrasound-driven innovation in lignin-nanocellulose materials | Kristofer-Jaago Kivari | University of Tartu, Institute of Chemistry, Wood Chemistry and Lignin Laboratory |
| Separation of soluble and non soluble fraction of cellulose laurate | Laura Ebber | Tallinn university of Technology |
| Mechanical and physical properties of blue stained norway spruce (picea abies) wood | Laura Kaljula | Tallinn University of Technology, Department of Materials and Environmental Technology, Laboratory of Wood Technology |
| From wood biomass to bio-based leather: high-value applications of hydrolysis lignin | Liisa Mari Eensalu | University of Tartu, Institute of Chemistry, Wood Chemistry and Lignin Laboratory |
| The effect of pressing parameters on the properties of nonwoven composites | Md Arifur Rahman | Tallinn University of Technology, Department of Materials and Environmental Technology, Laboratory of Textile Technology |
| Synthesis and investigation of glass forming derivatives of quinoxaline and phenanthroimidazole as luminophores for efficient oled | Mohamed Abdella | Department of Polymer Chemistry and Technology, Kaunas University of Technology, |
| Polymer composites based on polytetrafluoroethylene (ptfe) and silver for friction parts in food industry equipment | Oleh Kabat | University of Science and Technologies |
| Paraformaldehyde deposits as a recoverable formalin source: feasibility study for sustainable uf resin production | Paulius Barvainis | Achema, JSC, and Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) |
| Structural and mechanical properties of thermoplastic starch composites with aquatic biomass additives | Pēteris Patriks Jefimovs | Riga Technical University, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, Institute of Chemistry and Chemical Technology |
| Polymer resins from sustainable origin carboxylic acids through the michael 1,4-addition | Ralfs Pomilovskis | Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, Polymer Laboratory |
| Plywood reinforced with volcanic fibre fabric | Tanuj Kattamanchi | Tallinn University of Technology |
| Thermoplastic starch and modified aquatic biomass composites for replacement of extruded fossil-based plastics | Tatjana Ivanova | Riga Technical University, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, Institute of Chemistry and Chemical Technology |
| Microencapsulated linseed oil and cobalt naphthenate for self-repairing coatings | Tatjana Kochanė | Vilnius University |
| Valorization of mechanically recycled textile fibres into nonwoven materials with various compositions | Tiia Plamus | Tallinn University of Technology, Laboratory of Textile Technology |
| A compared study of esterified lignin for thermoplastic applications | Tran Ho | Tallinn university of Technology |
| Innovative approach for design of rotor blade core using rigid polyurethane foams | Vanesa Dhalivala | Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry |
| Choline hydroxide-based deep eutectic solvents: cellulose dissolution and esterification | Viltė Prelgauskaitė | Tallinn University of Technology |
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Contact information
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