On 22 October 2013 a new Cost Action FP1303 -Performance of bio-based building materials was kicked off in Brussels. 

On 22 October a new COST Action FP1303 -Performance of bio-based building materials was kicked off with a Management Committee meeting in Brussels. The importance of this Action was reflected in the high number of participants. The Action is now sending out the first call for Short Time Scientific Missions (STSMs) applications.

The Final International Cost Action Conference will be held in Skellefteå, Sweden; from May 19 to May 21. The objectives of this conference are to present and discuss the state-of–the-art of Thermo-Hydrous (TH) and Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical (THM) wood treatment in open and closed systems and the challenges faced in wood characterization for scaling-up from laboratory to full industrial production, through a discussion of the latest research results and new ideas.

Michael Green wants to solve architecture’s biggest challenge -- meeting worldwide housing demand without increasing carbon emissions -- by building with carbon-sequestering wood instead of concrete and steel.
Building a skyscraper? Forget about steel and concrete, says architect Michael Green, and build it out of wood.

As he details in his intriguing TED talk, it's not only possible to build safe wooden structures up to 30 stories tall (and, he hopes, higher), it's necessary.

For full TED talk click on read more.

After six months of negotiations, the European parliament and Council today reached agreement on Horizon 2020. At €68bn, it is well below the €80bn originally proposed by the European Commission and the €100bn requested by the European Parliament.