Mission
The Finnish Society of Forest Science was founded in 1909 to promote research in forest and wood science in Finland. The Society is a network of researchers and it strives to enhance the links between researchers and practical foresters and promote public interest in forest research.
The Society has 550 ordinary members. It has nominated respected Finnish and foreign forest researchers as honorary members of the Society. Several companies, non-governmental organisations, and state-funded organisations act as supporting members of the Society.
Grants
The Finnish Society of Forest Science gives out grants to advance forest science in Finland. SMS grants are awarded for research, travel, other international activities, language studies and for other activities within the scope of the SMS. Grants are typically awarded for researchers in the early stages of their careers.
In addition, Metsämiesten Säätiö Foundation has assigned the distribution of its IUFRO grants to the SMS. IUFRO grants are awarded for participating in IUFRO activities and for organizing IUFRO activities in Finland.
Online application and grant management system of the SMS
Publications
Together with the Finnish Forest Research Institute, the Society publishes Silva Fennica, a peer-reviewed international journal, and Metsätieteen aikakauskirja, a national forestry journal. Both are available in print and online. Dissertationes Forestales, published jointly with the Forest Research Institute and the universities of Helsinki and Joensuu, is an online forum for doctoral dissertations.
The Society exchanges publications with various foreign institutions from all over the world. As a result, it receives about a thousand publications annually which can be freely accessed through the Viikki Science Library of the University of Helsinki. New exchange agreements can be made by contacting the Exchange Centre for Scientific Literature.
The Society also publishes other literature presenting and promoting forest and wood science in Finland. Currently available is:
– Finlandes-Español-Finlandes- diccionario forestal. October 1994. Handy A5 sized Finnish-Spanish-Finnish-dictionary of forestry terminology.
Other activities
The Society organises seminars, workshops and excursions. Annually, the Society organises the Forest Science Day in Finland, in which currently interesting topics in forest research are presented and discussed.
The Society has five clubs: Forest biology, Forest economics, Forest technology, Forest management and the Forest Science club of Eastern Finland. These run their own activities, either on disciplinary or regional basis.
The Society annually gives scholarships to young researchers and awards prices for the best M.Sc. theses in forest sciences. These scholarships have an important role in supporting the research work of young researchers, enhancing their international connections and improving their language skills.
The Finnish Society of Forest Science is one of the 14 Finnish IUFRO (International Union of Forest Research Organizations) member organisations. The Society chairs the Finnish IUFRO Committee. The Secretary of the Society is the secretary of the committee meetings.
Contact info
The Finnish Society of Forest Science, P.O. Box 18, FI-01301 Vantaa, Finland. Telephone +358 40 801 5596, E-mail sms@helsinki.fi
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