Transparent Wood, Rhetoric, and the Cycle of Discovery

Transparent wood, first discovered in 1992 by Siegfried Fink, received little recognition until 2021, when it was deemed one of the year’s “best new discoveries.” Fink’s discovery of the material was originally only considered for its use within the field of forest ecology. However, when rediscovered decades later by two independent research teams, transparent wood was found to have far-reaching implications for improving technology display systems, like phone screens, and reducing buildings’ energy consumption. Often, researchers justify the value of their work through practical applications such as these, but practicality is especially subject to the rhetorical situation in which research occurs. Kairos, or the idea of perfect timing, is a rhetorical concept influential in understanding how discoveries, their relevance, and their potential uses are constrained by the time they are discovered in. Using the story of Siegfried Fink and the discovery of transparent wood as a case study, this piece explores how scientists must argue the value of their work, whether through application or intrinsic worth, to ensure its legacy.