The Chisholm Awards for Innovation in Forestry, now in its third year, is opening its doors once again to celebrate the innovative spirit and leadership of young students and researchers in Canada’s forest sector. The national awards initiative recognizes the significant contributions of youth who are promoting climate-positive research in forestry and helping advance Canada's emissions reduction goals.
Administered by Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) and launched in 2022, the program serves as a tribute to young researchers dedicated to making a positive impact on Canadian forestry and its future.
“The Chisholm Awards for Innovation in Forestry program highlights groundbreaking research and innovative solutions that are poised to profoundly influence the future of sustainable Canadian forestry,” said FPAC President and CEO Derek Nighbor. “We are honoured to acknowledge the inventive talents who contribute to the future of our sector by recognizing the leading projects and accomplishments of young researchers. Their dedication, creativity, and innovative approaches are pivotal to advancing Canada’s forest sector and tackling the national and global environmental, social, and economic challenges we face today.”
The program is open to Canadian students and researchers who are at the forefront of developing transformative innovations within the forest ecosystem – including in forests themselves, production processes, supply chains, or through product development.
Winners will be celebrated to coincide with The Nineteenth Session of the United Nations’ Forum on Forests on May 6-10, 2024.
Winners will also receive a cash prize of CAD$2,500.00 along with local, regional, national, and social media promotion – and will serve as Canada’s nominees for the International Council of Forest and Paper Associations’ (ICFPA) 2024-2025 Blue Sky Young Researchers Innovation Awards for the Global Forest Products Sector.
Eligible applicants must be students or researchers who are 30 years old or younger as of March 1, 2024. The deadline for application submissions is April 5, 2024. For further details and to submit an application, please visit the official Chisholm Awards for Innovation in Forestry program website: https://www.fpac.ca/awards/chisholm-awards-for-innovation-in-forestry.
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 $73B, Canada’s forest products sector is one of the country’s largest employers operating in hundreds of communities, providing 205,000 direct jobs and over 600,000 indirect jobs across the country. Our members are committed to collaborating with Indigenous leaders, government bodies, and other key stakeholders to develop a cross-Canada action plan aimed at advancing forest health, while supporting workers, communities, and our environment for the long term.