Jimenez named FORESPI’s Outstanding Young Scientist
November 5, 2013
Engr. Juanito P. Jimenez Jr., Senior Science Research Specialist at the Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI), recently received the 2013 Outstanding Young Scientist for Research in Forest and Natural Resources Utilization from the Forests and Natural Resources Research Society of the Philippines, Inc. (FORESPI). The award was given during FORESPI’s 10th Anniversary Celebration and General Assembly last 23 October 2013 at the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau Auditorium.
Jimenez was cited for his work on thermal modification that is an “alternative method to the application of hazardous chemical preservatives in prolonging the service life of malapapaya and kauayan-tinik while at the same time improving their dimensional stability, which is a requisite to making laminated or glued products intended for furniture, handicrafts and builder’s woodworks such as moldings and floorings”.
He was also recognized for his contributions in the field of forest products processing and utilization thru his works on kiln drying, furniture and plywood testing, and engineered composites.
Incidentally, Jimenez placed third in FORESPI’s Best Paper Competition for his paper on “Thermal Modification of Kauayan-tinik (Bambusa blumeana Schultes f.)”. Snatching the first and second spots respectively were For. Albert A. Piñon for his paper “Phenotypic and Genetic Characterization of Half-sib Progenies of Three Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus deglupta x E. pellita) Hybrids in Northern Mindanao, Philippines” and FPRDI’s Engr. Wency H. Carmelo for “Development of a Low-Cost Handicraft Dryer”.
Based in Los Baños, Laguna, FORESPI is an organization of environment and natural resources educators, researchers and extension specialists seeking to forge closer linkages among key players in the forestry, environment, and natural resources management. ### (Apple Jean C. Martin, 25 October 2013)
