Gerd Wegener

Gerd Wegener
Born
Gerd Wegener

1945 (age 80–81)
EducationUniversity of Hamburg
Known forWood chemistry and wood-based materials
Scientific career
FieldsWood science and technology
Forestry
WorkplacesLMU Munich
Technical University of Munich

Gerd Wegener (born 1945) is a German wood scientist and professor emeritus known for his contributions to wood chemistry and to ultrastructure of wood. He is a fellow (FIAWS) of the International Academy of Wood Science, and has been the editor-in-chief for scientific journals Wood Science and Technology and European Journal of Wood and Wood Products from 1994 to 2013.

He served as a professor at both LMU Munich and the Technical University of Munich (TUM), where he also directed wood research departments.

Research career

Wegener began his academic journey studying structural engineering at the Technical University of Munich from 1964 to 1966. He then pursued wood science at the University of Hamburg, completing his studies in 1970. He earned his doctorate in forestry from LMU Munich in 1975 and achieved his habilitation in 1986, receiving the LMU Habilitation Award for his work.

From 1975 to 1986, Wegener served as a research associate at LMU's Department of Wood Studies and Wood Technology. He became an adjunct teaching professor at LMU in 1986 and was appointed full professor and director of wood research in 1993. In 2000, he transitioned to TUM, where he continued his role as professor and director of wood research until his retirement in 2010.

The research projects of Wegener have focused on wood sustainable use, paper making, as well as on chemical products and energy recovery. He also has developed with his group some new wood-based materials with enhanced properties.

Additionally, in 1983, he co-authored the referred book Wood: Chemistry, Ultrastructure, Reactions, which -until September 2026- has been cited over than 6,000 times.

Recognition

His contributions to wood science have been well recognised:

References

  1. 1 2 "Fellows – The International Academy of Wood Science". IAWS. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Prof. Dr. Gerd Wegener". TUM Emeriti of Excellence. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  3. ↑ Wegener, Gerd (1983). Wood: Chemistry, Ultrastructure, Reactions. Hanser Publishers. ISBN 9783446141684. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)
  4. ↑ Kharazipour, Ali (2009). "Laudatio for Prof. Gerd Wegener". European Journal of Wood and Wood Products. 67 (3): 299–300. doi:10.1007/s00107-009-0343-9 (inactive 1 July 2025).{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link)
  5. ↑ "Schweighofer Prize 2009". Springer. doi:10.1007/s00226-009-0285-y. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  6. ↑ "Cluster Forest and Wood in Bavaria". SDG21. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  7. ↑ Evans, Robert (2019-05-01). "IAWS news". Wood Science and Technology. 53 (3): 519–520. doi:10.1007/s00226-019-01098-9. ISSN 1432-5225.