Congress Awards

IUFRO honors, through a variety of awards, those who advance science and promote international cooperation in all fields of research related to forestry. The International Council and the board of IUFRO are assisted by an Honours and Awards Committee (appointed by the board) in deciding on recipients of the various honours and awards. The host scientific awards are expected to cover the theme of the congress Forests and society towards 2050.

At each IUFRO World Congress, the following awards for scientific work are presented:

SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD (SAA)

Up to 10 awards will be given in recognition of distinguished individual scientific achievements within the fields of research covered by IUFRO. Nominations may be made by a member of the nominee’s parent organization, by Coordinators of Divisions, research groups, working parties and task forces, and by other officeholders and knowledgeable persons associated with IUFRO. Nominees must either belong to a IUFRO member organization or be individual members of IUFRO.

OUTSTANDING DOCTORAL RESEARCH AWARD (ODRA)

One award per IUFRO Division will be given to recognize path-breaking doctoral dissertations completed in the period 2018–2023 within the fields of research covered by IUFRO. Nominations may be made by a member of the nominee’s parent organization, by Coordinators of Divisions, research groups, working parties, task forces and by other officeholders and knowledgeable persons associated with IUFRO. Nominees must either belong to a IUFRO member organizations or be individual members of IUFRO.

IUFRO STUDENT AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN FOREST SCIENCE (ISA)

This award recognizes outstanding individual achievements in forest science made by Masters degree students (or equivalent) completed in the period 2018–2023, in order to encourage their further work within the fields of research covered by IUFRO. One award per IUFRO Division may be made for work related to the themes of the IUFRO World Congress 2024. Nominations can be made through IUFRO members and through the International Forestry Students’ Association (IFSA) via the IFSA Secretariat/Liaison Officer.

The Award shall consist of a certificate, the most economical cost of travel/subsidized travel to attend the World Congress, and waiver of the congress registration fee. The SAA will be presented at the opening or closing ceremony of the World Congress. For the ODRA and ISA, the awards will be presented in a special session where awardees are given the opportunity to present highlights of their award winning work. All award winners will be announced in a special issue of IUFRO News and in other media.

BEST POSTER AWARD (BPA)

To encourage public dissemination of high-quality research and to recognize distinguished poster presentations during the IUFRO World Congress by under-graduate students, graduate students and individuals who completed their graduate degrees up to 7 years prior to the congress. A number of awards will be presented for applications submitted by the corresponding author during the online submission of the abstract. Applications shall be finalized two months before the congress by submitting the final pdf of the poster presentation. Shortlisted poster presentations will be judged directly at the IUFRO World Congress. The awards will be mentioned during the closing ceremony.

IUFRO WORLD CONGRESS HOST AWARD

This award honours one or more truly outstanding scientists from the congress host country who has elevated the profile of forest science and research.