The photoelectron spectrum of 2-furanmethanol ͑furfuryl alcohol͒ has been measured for ionization energies between 8 and 11.2 eV and the first three ionization bands assigned to 3 , 2 , and n o ionizations in order of increasing binding energy. The photoabsorption spectrum has been recorded in the gas phase using both a synchrotron radiation source ͑5-9.91 eV, 248 -125 nm͒ and electron energy-loss spectroscopy under electric-dipole conditions ͑5-10.9 eV, 248 -90 nm͒. The ͑UV͒ absorption spectrum has also been recorded in solution ͑4.2-6.36 eV, 292-195 nm͒. The electronic excitation spectrum appears to be dominated by transitions between and * orbitals in the aromatic ring, leading to the conclusion that the frontier molecular orbitals of furan are affected only slightly on replacement of a H atom by the -CH 2 OH group. Additional experiments investigating electron impact at near-threshold energies have revealed two low-lying triplet states and at least one electron/molecule shape resonance. Dissociative electron attachment also shows to be widespread in furfuryl alcohol.