News Release

NSERC announces four Strategic Network Scientific Directors for Forest Sector R&D Initiative

August 26, 2009 — Under the Forest Sector R&D Initiative, four directors have been selected to manage pan-Canadian research networks devoted to next-generation solutions for the Canadian forest sector.

Sophie D’Amours, Canada Research Chair on Planning Sustainable Forest Networks, NSERC Industrial Research Chair and professor at Université Laval, will lead the Value Chain Modeling Strategic Network. For the last 10 years, Dr. D’Amours' research has focused on the development of planning tools and decision support systems to demonstrate value creation within the different networks of the forest products industry.

Ying-Hei Chui, professor in the Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management at the University of New Brunswick (UNB), will lead the Innovative Wood Products and Building Systems Strategic Network. Dr. Chui’s research programs cover wood engineering, engineered wood products and wood quality. For the past 20 years, Dr. Chui has been actively involved in research that leads to improved performance of engineered wood products and structural wood systems. He is also internationally recognized for his work in the area of dynamic response of wood structural systems. Dr. Chui held the position of Director of the Wood Science and Technology Centre at UNB between 1997 and 2008, and is an active member of the ForValueNet research network.

Theo van de Ven, NSERC Industrial Research Chair and professor of Chemistry at McGill University, will lead the Innovative Green Papers Strategic Network. Dr. van de Ven’s research focuses on improving paper properties, enabling the improvement of paper production methods and rates. For the last 20 years, Dr. van de Ven has also held the position of Director of the Pulp and Paper Research Centre at McGill University, and has been actively involved in the creation and management of several research networks related to paper production including  PAPIER,  SENTINEL and  PapInnov.

John Kadla, Canada Research Chair in Advanced Biomaterials and professor in the Department of Wood Science at the University of British Columbia, will lead the Biomaterials and Chemicals Strategic Network. Dr. Kadla’s research focuses on understanding the complex structure of wood-based polymers and how they function in relation to other synthetic polymer blends. Dr. Kadla is considered one of the leading researchers in cellulose and lignin chemistry. He is an active member of the  SENTINEL and  AUTO21 research networks.