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Extension News
SBIO extension agents share their ongoing stories with us!
This summer, SBIO's Pipiet Larasatie mentored senior Andrew Goben on an extension-focused research project exploring the mass timber market and its economic implications. Through this project, he gained hands-on experience in applied research and stakeholder engagement, presenting insights at professional meetings and collaborating with graduate researchers.
Projects like this show how extension bridges academic research with industry needs, preparing SBIO students like Andrew to lead in the sustainable materials sector.
Read Pipiet's full article here!
Congratulations to Dr. Brian Bond and Sailesh Adhikari on winning the Forest Resources Association’s 2025 Southeastern Region Technical Writing Award!
“Bond and Adhikari were recognized for their release titled “Hardwood CLT: Where We Stand Now,” which showcases over a decade of research at Virginia Tech exploring alternative wood species for use in cross-laminated timber (CLT). Their work has led to groundbreaking progress, including the inclusion of yellow poplar as the first hardwood species in the ANSI/APA PRG 320 CLT standard.
Dr. Bond is a professor and Associate Dean of Extension at Virginia Tech’s College of Natural Resources and Environment, where he leads programs in sustainable wood utilization. Dr. Adhikari is Director of Research and Development at the National Hardwood Lumber Association and has contributed extensively to hardwood product innovation. Their shared commitment to advancing sustainable forestry and building materials continues to shape the future of wood-based construction.” - FRA Southwide Region Manager, Clay Altizer.
SBIO's Pipiet Larasatie won the Faculty Nutshell Talks!
In the second Faculty Nutshell Talks event presented on March 4th, 2025, by the Center for Communicating Science at Virginia Tech, VT faculty were challenged to engage a public audience with quick, concise, and entertaining talks for only 90 seconds.
Listen here to Pipiet Larasatie talk about how using wood for building traps carbon dioxide and helps fight climate change - yes, even when building skyscrapers!
Virginia Cooperative Extension Network
The Virginia Cooperative Extension Network connects the citizens of the Commonwealth with experts in higher education who can provide meaningful support for many areas of natural resources and beyond.
The Department of Sustainable Biomaterials, working as part of this extension service, assists in creating a more sustainable society by improving utilization of the Commonwealth’s remarkable bio-resources. The scientific information shared through multiple outlets – in person, through multimedia, & in published material – is intended to improve the standard of living for all citizens of Virginia.
Our extension and outreach faculty connect with local people and groups by providing educational opportunities.
These mutually beneficial collaborations with partners and stakeholders outside the academic community include associates like those in education, business, and public and social service:
- Services that directly benefit the community
- Teaching that enables learning beyond the campus walls
- Research that makes what we discover functional beyond the academic community
We provide educational opportunities and resources to large and small businesses, consumers, and educators. We enable them to better utilize wood and other sustainable products and help manage our valuable, renewable forest resources.
SBIO Department Extension Program
The mission of the SBIO department extension program at Virginia Tech is to serve Virginia citizens and businesses that work with any sustainable biomaterials. Our extension faculty connect with locals by providing educational opportunities around topics, such as: the efficient manufacture and sustainable use of a variety of natural products, Lean manufacturing of many different products, and in green, sustainable enterprises, particularly associated with our region's sustainable biomaterials and forest resources.
Check through the tabs below for more links and resources about the industry in Virginia for forest products and other biomaterials.
Wood is a biological and renewable material that can be processed into value-added products in many different ways. To understand better how to process or machine wood, these readings are recommended. Specifics on the anatomy, mechanics, and machinability of wood are explained in these important publications from outside of the university.
- Wood and Mold Mold, Housing, and Wood
- Mold and Wood Products - visit the Western Wood Products Association website
- A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home
- Commercial steam and vacuum treatment systems for logs
- Development of a Non-Chemical Phytosanitation Treatment for Logs
- Economic Analysis
- Summary of Alternatives to Methyl Bromide for Logs
- U.S. Log Exports and Imports
- Mold and Wood Products
Dr. Brian Bond
Areas of Expertise:
- Wood drying
- Wood Processing and Manufacturing
- Wood Identification
- Performance of Wood in Use
- Wood Flooring
Email: bbond@vt.edu
Phone: (540) 231-8752
Dr. Urs Buehlmann
Areas of Expertise:
- Manufacturing Systems Engineering
- Lean Manufacturing
- Business Benchmarking
- Competitive Strategy
- Globalization
Email: buehlmann@gmail.com
Phone: (540) 231-9759
Dr. Pipiet Larasatie
Areas of Expertise:
- Forest Sector Competitiveness
- Sustainable Business Management
- Wood Industry Development
- Wood Products Workforce Development
- Forest Products Marketing Practices
Email: pipiet@vt.edu
Phone: (540) 231-8253
Extension Resources
The departmental program of cooperation between the Virginia Cooperative Extension and Virginia Tech is designed to serve Virginia citizens and businesses that work with and use wood and other sustainable biomaterials. Our extension and outreach faculty provide education in the efficient manufacture and sustainable use of a variety of products in the business and management realms, in the lean manufacturing of many different products, and in green, sustainable enterprises, particularly associated with southwest VA's sustainable resources.