Wood Science: Beyond Building
Offered By
Wood Science: Beyond Building
West Virginia University
About this Course
4.6
75 ratings
The central question of this course: “why study wood?” If “why study wood” is the question, one answer would be that it is the only raw material available to us that is truly renewable in human life span terms. Wood is as important to society today as it ever was, despite the development of many man-made substitute materials, changing resource availability, and the changing needs of society. Some items on the list of wood products stay the same (lumber, plywood and veneer for building construction, furniture, shipping pallets & crates and other containers & packaging materials, railroad ties, utility poles, chemical feed stocks, etc), but the list also keeps changing to meet new needs and challenges as the resource changes.
In short, wood is a far more diverse, green, and renewable resource than you might have imagined. Join us to learn about the important role of wood in human history, civilization, and our future.
By the end of the course, learners will be able to:
- describe wood as a raw material and its critical importance to the world economy, and the lives of the people that make that economy work.
- identify the projected trend for wood consumption to continue to grow in the coming years, despite the image of wood as a "low tech" material.
- identify the ways in which wood's properties can lead to its efficient and sustainable use.
-identify wood's positive role in boosting the world economy and ability to lead to unexpected vocations.
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
1
Section
Welcome and Global Use
8 videos (Total 52 min), 4 readings, 1 quiz
8 videos
Book Recommendations8m
Organization Recommendations5m
Forest Cover and Harvests: Part A4m
Forest Cover and Harvests: Part B6m
Comparing Fuel Values2m
Managing Forests8m
Harvesting Wood12m
4 readings
About Names10m
Commercial Species10m
Hardwoods vs Softwoods10m
Characteristics and Availability of Commercially Important Woods10m
1 practice exercise
Module 1 Quiz18m
2
Section
Basic Wood Science
10 videos (Total 57 min), 7 readings, 1 quiz
10 videos
Wood Structure & Moisture Content: Part B8m
Wood Structure & Moisture Content: Part C6m
Wood Challenges and Solutions4m
Solving the Riddle3m
Stress Tests3m
Anisotropic Nature of Wood5m
Wood Decay and Preservation: Part A7m
Wood Decay and Preservation: Part B5m
Wood Decay and Preservation: Part C7m
7 readings
Moisture and Normal Wood Behavior10m
Moisture Relations & Physical Properties of Wood10m
Drying & Control of Moisture Content & Dimensional Changes10m
Wood Qualities10m
Stress in Wood10m
Estimating Dimensional Changes10m
A Rotten Shame. 1985 Phipps Conservatory Wood Repairs Need Redoing10m
1 practice exercise
Module 2 Quiz40m
3
Section
Wood Products
9 videos (Total 67 min), 4 readings, 1 quiz
9 videos
Andrew White: Guitar, Part B9m
Andrew White: Guitar, Part C8m
Solid Wood Flooring4m
Engineered Wood Flooring: Part A9m
Engineered Wood Flooring: Part B9m
Modern/Engineered Wood Products: Part A5m
Modern/Engineered Wood Products: Part B6m
Making Engineered Wood Products4m
4 readings
Wood Products: Introducing Andrew White10m
CITES: The Lacey Act10m
Engineered Wood Composites10m
Historic Glued-Laminated Arches Evaluated for Structural Quality10m
1 practice exercise
Module 3 Quiz28m
4
Section
Wood and the Environment
10 videos (Total 56 min), 7 readings, 1 quiz
10 videos
Climate Science: Part B7m
Life Cycle Analysis3m
Life Cycle Analysis of Railroad Ties4m
Invasive Species: Part A9m
Invasive Species: Part B8m
Land Use4m
Impact of Supply and Demand8m
Sustainable Management4m
Bonus: Outtakes2m
7 readings
Understanding the Carbon Cycle; Readings from NASA.10m
reThink Wood: Life Cycle Assessment10m
CORRIM Fact Sheet: The Role of Forests, Management, and Forest Products on Carbon Mitigation10m
Tree-of-Heaven: Ailanthus altissima10m
Demand and Sustainability10m
Forests and Population Growth10m
Bonus: Outtakes10m
1 practice exercise
Module 4 Quiz22m
4.6
Top Reviews
By MM•Apr 24th 2018
Very imformative, very engaging, very inspiring!\n\nAn awesome course to be taken and the knowledge shared here is simply shocking and usefull.\n\nTHANK YOU.
By KK•Mar 26th 2018
Great course for introduction to forestry with many information about wood science. GREAT teachers !
Instructors
Lawrence Osborn
Research AssociateDavis College Division of Forestry & Natural Resources
Jeffrey Slahor
Research InstructorDavis College Division of Forestry & Natural Resources
About West Virginia University
Founded in 1867, West Virginia University is moving toward a global destiny. World-class faculty are exploring everything from pulsars to nanoscale technology. Rated as the #2 public university at which to do research and a top-20 best place to work in academia, WVU is collaborating with international academic and research partners.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
What is the refund policy?
Is financial aid available?
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.
Coursera provides universal access to the world’s best education,
partnering with top universities and organizations to offer courses online.
© 2018 Coursera Inc. All rights reserved.
