When?

December 1 – 5, 2025

9:00 – 17:00 (Beijing Time)

Where?

Zhejiang A&F University,

Hangzhou, China.

The deadline for abstract submission   is July 15, 2025.
  For any questions please contact: info.afrc@ubc.ca

Forum Summary

The Third International Young Scientist Forum for Climate Change with the broader theme of Sustainable Development through Bamboo Resources is a five-day hybrid event organized by the Faculty of Forestry at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Zhejiang A&F University (ZAFU), and International Bamboo and Rattan Organization (INBAR), co-organized by International Center for Bamboo and Rattan (ICBR), China-Canada Joint Laboratory for Bamboo & Rattan Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Jiangxi Academy of Forestry, Asia Pacific Forestry Education Coordination Mechanism (APFECM), Nanjing Forestry University, Southwest Forestry University, and IUFRO Division 5.11.05 – Bamboo and Rattan. Taking advantage of hybrid platforms, the forum will facilitate international participation and communication. The event will explore innovative bamboo-based solutions to combat climate change, covering a range of topics in the following 4 sessions:

Theme I: The Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic Initiative (including but not limited to):

– Advances in bamboo fiber composites, packaging, and consumer goods
– Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) comparing bamboo to conventional plastics
– Policy and business strategies for market transformation
– Standardization and certification pathways for bamboo-based substitutes

Theme II: Carbon Sequestration and Climate Mitigation (including but not limited to):

– Bamboo’s carbon sink function in different ecological zones
– Restoration of degraded lands using bamboo and its role in ecosystem resilience
– Its inclusion in carbon accounting frameworks, including NDCs and Article 6 mechanisms
– The potential of bamboo-based credits in voluntary and compliance carbon markets

Theme III: Technological Advancements and Innovations (including but not limited to):

– Smart harvesting techniques, digitization, and automation
– Advances in bamboo processing, such as engineered bamboo, textiles, and biomass energy
– Biorefinery and bio-based material innovation
– Enabling conditions for a circular economy within bamboo value chains

Theme IV: Livelihoods, Community Development, and the Global Bioeconomy (including but not limited to):

– Rural income generation and job creation, particularly for smallholder farmers
– Gender equity, youth engagement, and community empowerment
– Integration of bamboo into national bioeconomy strategies
– South-South collaboration and capacity building in bamboo-producing countries

This forum welcomes global young scientists, including graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and young professors conducting relevant research. Participants will engage in discussions, share knowledge, and foster collaborations to promote a sustainable future using bamboo as a key resource in combating climate change. There are also opportunities to submit posters to the forum. Furthermore, the journal Advances in Bamboo Science will launch an eponymous special issue reflecting the theme of the forum, encouraging global young scientists to participate and showcase their work.

 About the Forum

The Third International Young Scientist Forum is committed to investigating bamboo-based solutions to address the urgent issue of global climate change, emphasizing the crucial role of young scientists. The ongoing climate crisis poses significant and irreversible impacts on natural ecosystems, human societies and economies, demanding urgent, immediate and ambitious efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions drastically and initiate a transition toward a sustainable and resilient future. Bamboo, a fast-growing woody grass, has shown immense potential as a nature-based solution to climate change. It outperforms many tree species growing in similar regions in terms of carbon sequestration and storage capacity. Bamboo forests, now covering over 35 million hectares globally, serve as an exceptional renewable resource, yielding a variety of durable and sustainable products, from flooring to furniture, that can substitute carbon-intensive materials, thereby reducing deforestation and pollution. In 2022, the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization (INBAR) launched the ‘Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic Initiative’. This initiative aims to amplify the use of bamboo to mitigate plastic pollution and address climate change challenges. With the global bamboo industry estimated to reach USD 90 billion by 2030, the development of bamboo-based products holds significant economic potential. In addition, introducing improved forest management activities in bamboo forests can generate carbon offset credits, providing financial incentives for farmers to better manage their bamboo forests and thus contributing to climate change mitigation and rural poverty reduction.

The forum seeks to gather young scientists from around the world, including graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and young professors, to delve into the potential of bamboo as a climate change solution. The forum will explore a range of topics, including bamboo livelihood and rural development strategies, climate change mitigation strategies, sustainable management practices, emerging bamboo-related technologies and businesses, and biodiversity conservation. The forum aims to inspire and empower young scientists to contribute to a more sustainable future by facilitating collaboration and knowledge exchange. The forum will encourage high-quality article submissions to an eponymous special issue of the Journal of Advances in Bamboo Science.

Awards

1.Best Presenter – First Place

   3 winners ($1200 each)

2.Best Presenter – Runner-up

   6 winners ($600 each)

3.Best Presenter – Third Place

   6 winners ($300 each)

4.Best Poster

   3 winners ($200 each)

5.Industry Leadership Award

   2 winners ($200 each)