The latest issue of Scion Connections is out now. Across 44 pages and 24 stories, we celebrate science, innovation and our partnerships with industry, iwi and Government that are helping to create a greener, more prosperous Aotearoa.

Discover how our research is protecting New Zealand’s forestry and biodiversity in a changing climate while exploring ways to make better use of biomass to accelerate economic growth, manufacture new high-value products, and stimulate the regions.

Our cover story is a nod to our entomology team’s work in looking after the National Forestry Insect Collection (FRNZ) – one of 10 nationally important collections and databases in Scion’s custodianship. This issue we kick off a series celebrating these collections that are a  ‘living memory’ relating to almost all aspects of Scion’s research. We reveal new additions to the insect collection before exploring the National Wood Performance Archive – an outdoor laboratory where 50 wood durability and performance trials are under way.

We learn from the Supreme Winner of last year’s Timber Design Awards about the benefits that come from using engineered timber as a construction material. The Green School design has set a new benchmark for learning facilities of the future.

Heading into the field, we look at research that aims to make it easier for nurseries to scale up propagation of indigenous trees and overcome supply challenges. Then we head south where scientists have studied the role that possums and rodents play in preventing the spread of wilding pines – valuable work that is moving us closer to  management practices to break the cycle of treatment, reinvasion and re-treatment.

There’s exciting opportunities ahead for the forestry industry to embrace virtual reality as a training tool for staff, plus we unpack the results from a two-year research project that assessed the regions and species most suited for short rotation forestry as a feedstock for bioenergy.

Enjoy these stories and more by grabbing a copy from the Marketing & Communications team, Scion’s reception or read online.

Share your thoughts for a chance to WIN

To ensure that Scion Connections remains a valuable resource, we are inviting readers to complete an online survey. Your feedback is important to us as we strive to improve and tailor each issue to meet your needs and interests.

As an extra incentive, we’re giving everyone who completes the survey before midnight 31 July 2024 a chance to win a $200 Prezzy Gift Card.

Click here to complete the survey and view the T&Cs.