The current 2014 year was very challenging for IFRF with many personal changes in the foundation. I took the position of IFRF Director with the beginning of this year. In May we had the next change, when Izabela Reszewicz took over the position of IFRF Communication Officer. During our Join Committee meeting in June in IJmuiden Leo Tognotti, from University of Pisa, was appointed as IFRF Superintendent of Research and Wiebren de Jong, from Delft University of Technology, was appointed as IFRF Deputy Superintendent of Research.

Also from this year two national committees have new people at the helms: Fredrik Norman is a new chairman and Kent Davidsson is a new secretary of Swedish Flame Research Committee; Jeroen van Oijen is a new chairman of Dutch Flame Research Committee.

However, concerning recent research activities in Livorno, last week we finished biomass and coal blends volatilisation tests at one of our test rigs, the Isothermal Plug Flow Reactor – IPFR. The tests were done with our visiting investigator, Maciej Komorowski, from AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków, Poland. Maciej came to us to conduct the test financed from Transnational Access of Brisk project. As the finding is still available, please see Brisk website for further details.

As we are approaching Christmas time, the IFRF team would like to wish all of you the best greetings for this special time and happy New Year 2015.

Please note that the next MNM will be published on 12^th January 2015.