Dreams Do Come True
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In the photo above, Dr. Gray receives his award from H.R. Carl XVI Gustaf, The King of Sweden.
Dreams do come true...in so many ways. Our industry has been called many things during the past 2,000 years, but the term "glamorous" normally does not roll off the tongue when one speaks of the forest products industry.
Okay, I am sure there are many of you who have been invited to spend time in the presence of a king, queen, or ambassador in your career, but this is the first position that I have held where this was actually the case for my wife and me. This occurred back on Sept. 24-25, 2013. I waited until now to report it, to be certain it was not a dream. The scene was at the Grand Hotel in Stockholm, Sweden.
A dream came true for Dr. Derek Gray, holder of the NSERC/Innovations Industrial Research Chair at McGill University, when he was named the recipient of the 2013 Marcus Wallenberg Prize (MWP). The MWP was established in 1980 for one purpose—to recognize, encourage, and stimulate path breaking scientific achievements that contribute significantly to broadening knowledge and technical development within the fields of importance to forestry and forest industries. The MWP has a cash value of 2 million Swedish Krona (SEK), or the equivalent to more than $300,000.
"Dr. Gray was awarded this prize through his work showing that cellulose crystals in water suspensions align spontaneously in a specific pattern, in turn creating unique optical properties," said Kaj Roesen, executive secretary of the MWP Foundation. "This discovery has extended the boundaries of the uses of forest raw material and, in doing so, has created the potential for a series of new products in the forest industry, such as applications of films in "intelligent" packaging materials, printed electronic circuits on paper, surfacing and filler materials for paper and paperboard, inks and cosmetics, and iridescent or magnetic films."
On then right, he and his wife were honored the next evening at the Canadian Embassy, in Stockholm.
If you are a student, young professional, or a mature professional, do not stop dreaming. We have only cracked the surface of what this great indiustry of ours has to offer. Who knows? You may be the next MWP award winner.
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In the photos above, my wife Suzanne and I were honored to be invited to share in both celebrations. |
More information about the MWP is available online. Also, more information about TAPPI is available online.
There are two types of people in our industry; TAPPI members and those who should be.
Until next time...Larry
Inside this Section
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- TAPPI Journal Awards Two Best Research Papers for 2020
- New TAPPI Board of Directors and Officers Announced
- TAPPI Announces 2020 Engineering Division Technical Award and Beloit Prize Winner
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- Master Papermaking Additives to Gain Competitive Advantage and Better Meet Customers’ Needs
- Film Extrusion Manual, Third Edition Now Available from TAPPI Press
- TAPPI Selects Fellows and Outstanding Young Professionals for 2020
- TAPPI Awards Highest Honors for 2020
- Guidelines for Safe Assessment and Operation of Yankee Dryers Now Available from TAPPI Press
- Kraft Recovery Boilers, Third Edition Now Available From TAPPI Press
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- Lime Kilns and Recausticizing: The Forgotten Part of a Kraft Mill Now Available from TAPPI Press
- TAPPI Foundation Awards 2021-2022 Scholarships
- Two Major Training Events for the Pulp and Paper Industry Set for January 10 – 13, 2022 in St. Petersburg, Florida
- Interactive Panel Provides Perspectives on 2025 Sustainability Initiatives In the Flexible Packaging Industry
- Introducing TAPPI’s Newest Directors
- WestRock’s Director-Research and Innovation Named Recipient of TAPPI’s 2022 Gunnar Nicholson Gold Medal Award
- John Neun Named Recipient of 2022 Herman L. Joachim Distinguished Service Award
- Paul W. Magnabosco Outstanding Local Section Award
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- TAPPI Journal Awards Best Research Paper for 2021
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- North Carolina State University’s Professor and Buckman Distinguished Scientist Named Recipient of TAPPI’s 2023 Gunnar Nicholson Gold Medal Award
- Brian N. Brogdon Honored with TAPPI’s 2023 Herman L. Joachim Distinguished Service Award
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- President and CEO of Stora Enso Receives TAPPI/PIMA 2023 Executive of the Year Award
- Announcing TAPPI’s CorrExpo 2023 Keynoters: Bob Chapman, Chairman and CEO, Barry-Wehmiller and World-Class Drummer Mark Schulman
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- Announcing TAPPI’s CorrExpo 2023 Box Plant Deal
- Call for Speakers Issued for TAPPI’s 2024 FlexPack PLACE Conference
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- Corrugated Boot Camp Hosted by Chicago TAPPI Following Annual Board Meeting
- Keynote Speakers Announced for TAPPI’s 2024 FlexPack PLACE Conference
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- Interactive Panel Explores Flexible Packaging’s Challenges and Limitations in Creating More Sustainable Solutions at TAPPI’s FlexPack PLACE Conference
- Early-bird Registration Opens for the 2024 TAPPI International Conference on Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials
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- Seyhan Nuyan, Ph.D., Named Recipient of TAPPI’s 2024 Gunnar Nicholson Gold Medal Award
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- Converter Advanced Registration Discount (CARD) Program Provides Affordable, One Price Registration
- TAPPI Selects Fellows and Outstanding Young Professionals for 2024
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- Sean Ireland, CEO of CapaTec, to Deliver Keynote Address at 2024Nano
- Sean Ireland, CEO of CapaTec, to Deliver Keynote Address at TAPPI's 2024 International Conference on Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials (Nano)
- TAPPI & AICC Announce Attendee Registration Opening for SuperCorrExpo® 2024
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- April 2019 Committee of the Month - Runnability Planning Committee
- Mentor Match Signup - Spring 2019
- A Guide to the Nanotechnology used in the Average Home
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- 20 never seen before packaging designs
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