Professors Alexis Achim, Pierre Blanchet, Ahmed Koubaa and Roger Hernández among the World’s Top 2% Scientists!
We are proud to announce that four researchers from the Renewable Materials Research Centre (CRMR) are listed in the prestigious World’s Top 2% Scientists for 2024, which recognizes the most influential scientists worldwide. This distinction highlights the international impact and outstanding excellence of their research.
Compiled by Stanford University in collaboration with the scientific publisher Elsevier, this ranking highlights researchers whose publications have had the most significant impact in their respective fields. Professors Alexis Achim, Ahmed Koubaa, and Roger Hernández are recognized on the World’s Top 2% Scientists list, while Pierre Blanchet stands out in particular by being included among the Career Top 2%, reflecting the lasting influence and global reach of his scientific work.
Alexis Achim (Université Laval) holds the Canada Research Chair in Silviculture Adapted to Climate Change. He is the scientific director of the Montmorency Forest and a regular member of the CRMR, which he led from 2017 to 2022. Known for his ability to build strategic partnerships with government, industry, and community sectors, he has led innovative projects, including a remote sensing laboratory dedicated to climate-adaptive silviculture and the pan-Canadian Silva21 initiative. He is distinguished by his expertise in enhancing the value of wood fibres for the development of innovative materials, thereby strengthening the position of Université Laval and the CRMR as leaders in wood and forest science.
Pierre Blanchet (Université Laval), holder of the Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Building, director of the graduate programs in Wood Engineering and Bio-based Materials, and regular member of the CRMR, has been listed for the fifth consecutive year among the Career Top 2% of the World’s Top 2% Scientists, highlighting the significance and lasting impact of his work. His research focuses on wood processing, sustainable construction, eco-design, and the durability of materials and buildings. His work actively contributes to innovation in the responsible construction sector by combining scientific expertise with practical applications for a more sustainable future. He is also involved in several research centers (CRMR, CIRODD, CERIEC, CERMA) and participates in the development of policies in forestry and ecological construction.
Ahmed Koubaa (Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue), holder of a Canada Research Chair (Tier 1), co-holder of the CorePAN – Bois Consortium, and an associate member of the CRMR, is a recognized expert in wood characterization, biomaterials, and biocomposites. He has distinguished himself by developing innovative materials with properties comparable to structural wood products, notably from wood–polymer composites and agricultural residues. He has also established state-of-the-art facilities for the manufacturing and 3D printing of biocomposites.
Roger Hernández (Université Laval), Associate Member of the CRMR and of the NSERC Strategic Network on Forest Management for Value-Added Products, has been listed for the sixth consecutive year among the World’s Top 2% Scientists. A world-renowned expert in wood science, he has distinguished himself through innovative research on eco-responsible machining, extending the service life of cutting tools, the physico-mechanical behavior of tropical woods, secondary processing of wood products, and the valorization of boreal, temperate, and tropical species. His work directly contributes to industrial innovation and the sustainability of wood processing operations worldwide, exemplifying the excellence and international impact of research at Université Laval.
This international recognition is a source of great pride for the entire university community. It highlights our researchers’ ongoing commitment to advancing knowledge in renewable materials and their significant contribution to society through high-impact discoveries.
Congratulations to Professors Alexis Achim, Pierre Blanchet, Ahmed Koubaa and Roger Hernández for this outstanding distinction, which reflects the excellence and international impact of research at the CRMR. We warmly thank you for your valuable and inspiring contributions.
Source: 𝘌𝘭𝘴𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘋𝘢𝘵𝘢 𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 2024
By: Besma Bouslimi