PhD candidates Assira Keralta from Université Laval and Shayan Narani of the University of British Columbia are the 2025 winners of the Chisholm Awards for Innovation in Forestry, a national competition for young researchers.
Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) recognizes emerging young researchers and the academic institutions advancing them as they generate innovative forest-based solutions. The theme for 2025 is ‘Promoting Decarbonization in The Forest Products Sector Through Value Chain Innovation’.
The important contributions of Canada’s young researchers are receiving international recognition. Earlier this month, Penghui Zhu, a distinguished researcher in Pulp and Paper Engineering and a 2024 Chisholm Award winner, went on to win first place in the 2025 international Blue Sky Young Researchers Innovation Award. His groundbreaking work at the University of British Columbia focuses on developing stretchable all-cellulose films as biodegradable alternatives to plastic packaging. Zhu’s work is a powerful example of how Canadian forestry innovation is making an impact around the world.
“In this critical time as we work to advance sustainable global solutions, the next generation of innovative researchers are driving that transition. Their solutions reflect the growing importance of science and collaboration in tackling complex challenges,” said FPAC President and CEO, Derek Nighbor. “By supporting young innovators, we’re also investing in the long-term resilience and competitiveness of Canada’s forest products sector.”
Assira Keralta is a PhD student at Université Laval in Quebec City, with a strong academic background in materials science and wood engineering. He is developing eco-friendly wood modification strategies to enhance durability, dimensional stability, and overall performance, with an emphasis on maximizing the value extracted from biobased materials within a sustainable framework.
A visit to a pulp mill where large volumes of biomass waste were being generated inspired Shayan Narani to explore solutions for waste valorization. His Ph.D. research at the University of British Columbia centers on using these byproducts as replacements for cement and aggregate in concrete, addressing both waste management and CO2 reduction.
Chisholm Award applicants must be students or researchers who are 30 years old or younger as of March 1, 2025. Applicants must be carrying out research and innovation projects relevant for forestry, forest products, and/or forest products processing technologies – with links to academia, public or private research centers, and/or corporate research and innovation departments.
FPAC provides a voice for Canada’s wood, pulp, and paper producers nationally and internationally in government, trade, and environmental affairs. As an industry with annual revenues exceeding $87.2B, Canada’s forest products sector is one of the country’s largest employers—providing 200,000 direct jobs and operating in hundreds of communities across the country. Our members are committed to collaborating with Indigenous leaders, government bodies, and other key stakeholders to develop a cross-Canada forest sector action plan to advance forest health while supporting workers, communities and our environment for the long term.
2025 International Blue Sky Young Researchers Innovation Award (of International Forest Sector Innovation Awards) and 2024 Chisholm Awards for Innovation in Forestry Recipient
Penghui Zhu
A distinguished researcher in Pulp and Paper Engineering, Penghui Zhu holds a Ph.D. from South China University of Technology (SCUT) and has made significant contributions to projects at the University of British Columbia (UBC).
Noteworthy achievements include the Chancellor's Scholarship, the Mitacs Elevate Postdoc Fellowship of Canada, the Mitacs Accelerate Postdoc Fellowship of Canada, and FPAC’s Chisholm Awards for Innovation in Forestry, underscoring Penghui's unwavering commitment to excellence.
Zhu’s research focuses on pioneering cellulose applications, particularly the development of cellulose films for plastics replacement, positioning Penghui as a trailblazer in sustainable materials. Operating out of British Columbia, Penghui's project centers on the conversion of pulp into stretchable, all-cellulose films for packaging, offering a biodegradable solution to plastic packaging materials.
2025 Chisholm Awards for Innovation in Forestry Recipients
Assira Keralta, Université Laval
Assira Keralta is a PhD student originally from Chad, with a strong academic background in materials science and wood engineering. He began his academic journey with a bachelor’s degree in Physics and Chemistry at École Normale Supérieure de N’Djamena, laying a solid foundation in the physical sciences. His passion for materials led him to France, where he pursued a master’s degree in Polymers for Advanced Technologies at Université Grenoble Alpes. Driven by a commitment to sustainability and innovation, Assira moved to Canada to join Université Laval as a PhD candidate in Wood Engineering and Biobased Materials.
His doctoral research, titled “Wood stabilization in a circular economy context,” is conducted under the supervision of Professors Véronic Landry, Marie-Josée Dumont, and Julien Chamberland. His work focuses on developing eco-friendly wood modification strategies to enhance durability, dimensional stability, and overall performance, with an emphasis on valorizing biobased materials within a sustainable framework. Assira has actively shared his research through numerous national and international conferences, building a strong scientific presence in the field of wood science. His contributions have been recognized with prestigious Ron Cockroft Award, which celebrates outstanding achievements by emerging researchers in wood protection and preservation
“Forestry research, for me, is about building sustainable bridges between nature and innovation. Winning the prestigious Chisholm Award this year is not just an honour, it is a powerful reminder that pursuing science with purpose leads to real impact. I am so delighted and grateful to be one of the winners. This award reinforces my motivation to work and innovate in this sector. I am also proud to contribute to a field that protects our forests while reimagining their potential for future generations." – Assira Keralta.
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Shayan Narani, University of British Columbia
Shayan Narani earned his B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Civil Engineering from Shahid Beheshti University and Amirkabir University, respectively. During his M.Sc., he conducted extensive research on sustainable construction materials, resulting in multiple publications in peer-reviewed journals. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. at the University of British Columbia under the supervision of Dr. Sumi Siddiqua, focusing on green construction technologies.
Through ongoing research in Dr. Siddiqua’s lab, Shayan became involved in studying pulp and paper industry byproducts for geotechnical applications. A visit to a pulp mill in Kamloops, where large volumes of biomass waste were being landfilled, inspired him to explore solutions for waste valorization. His Ph.D. research centers on utilizing these byproducts as replacements for cement and aggregate in concrete, addressing both waste management and CO2 reduction—key concerns in an industry responsible for 8-10% of global emissions. His work has led to a patent-pending method that enhances cement replacement using wood fly ash while enabling carbon capture and utilization in cementitious materials. Recently, Shayan launched a venture aimed at commercializing the use of biomass byproducts in cement and concrete, working closely with industry partners to turn this vision into reality.
"Canada’s natural resources have long served as an economic lifeline, and the body of research surrounding them is both rich and promising. I’ve been fortunate to contribute to this space through forestry-focused research, particularly on the innovative use of wood ash for cement replacement. Receiving the Chisholm Award for Innovation in Forestry affirms the impact of this work. I’m now more committed than ever to advancing this research and translating it into a meaningful commercial solution for the industry." – Shayan Narani.
For interview requests with the recipients, please contact sbollu@fpac.ca.
