The 3^rd Trier Conversation on Timber Construction took place on April 26^th, 2013, with 110 participants at Trier University of Applied Sciences. The Wood Science and Research Department, the Chamber of Trade in Trier and the State Advisory Committee for Wood in Rhineland-Palatinate organized the event which generated keen interest among representatives of the areas of academics, business, trades and crafts, and politics.

After the opening words by Prof. Dr. Norbert Kuhn, president of Trier University of Applied Sciences, Rudi Müller, president of the Chamber of Trade in Trier and Dr. Gerd Loskant, chairman of the State Advisory Committee for Wood in Rhineland-Palatinate, the series of talks was opened by Dr. Norbert Heidingsfeld of the Rhineland-Palatinate Forestry Service with his presentation on supply and market prices for timber resources.

Then two talks on the topic of new construction and statics were given. The first by Dipl. Ing. Holger Kappler dealt with façade refurbishment for a 3-story apartment building in Duisburg and the second by Dipl. Ing. Helmut Zeitter dealt with statics, stability and calculations in multi-story buildings.

For the topic of building in existing contexts, Zimmermeister Lothar Rosenbaum gave insights into repairing and restoring historical timber structures and Dipl. Ing (FH) Pia Haun presented on wood protection and preservation of historical sites from the point of view of an expert on wood protection.

Current research and development was presented by Prof. Dr. Becker, Dipl. Ing. (FH) Jan Weber, B.Eng. Simon Scherer and B. Eng. Michael Weiler for Trier University of Applied Sciences and B.Eng. Michael Drass from Mainz University of Applied Sciences.

Finally, Prof. Brigitte Steffen from Reutlingen University of Applied Sciences provided insights into the social and cultural reception of wood and the resulting fascination for customers, clients and end users in architecture and design.

The Conversations on Timber Construction again offered visitors and students a platform for interdisciplinary exchange with concrete networking opportunities.