Wood preservation is a technological discipline, based upon a number of fundamental sciences, including biology and chemistry. The International Research Group on Wood Preservation (IRG) is presently structured to support the preservation industry, since IRG working groups attempt to strike a balance between fundamental aspects and technological needs. Over the years there has been an increasing recognition for such a balance within the IRG, concomitant with the broadening base of the Group. This may be viewed by some members as detrimental to our major aim, which is "to promote research throughout the world on the subject of wood preservation". However much of today's preservation world is occupied by practical matters, and thus many of our fellow researchers are of necessity concerned with technological issues rather than fundamental ones. This is not to say that there is no need to invest in an understanding of the fundamentals in order to solve practical problems. But unfortunately research funds are allocated more and more by pragmatists (even though they may ultimately be administered by workers less practically minded, but scientifically more aware). In particular, both government and industry are looking to make their research monies pay practical dividends, often by quick return.

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