Louis-David Giasson wins Best Presentation Award at the 93rd ACFAS Congress
Louis-David Giasson honored at the 93rd ACFAS Congress for an outstanding presentation!
Congratulations to Louis-David Giasson, who received the Best Presentation Award at the 93rd ACFAS Congress during Symposium 210 – Catalyzing Innovation: From the Forest to Bio-Based Products. This prestigious distinction highlights the scientific rigor, clarity of communication, and applied impact of his work, which addresses key challenges in the forestry sector today.
PhD candidate in wood engineering and bio-based materials at Université Laval, under the supervision of Alain Cloutier and Isabelle Duchesne (Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Laurentian Forestry Centre), Louis-David Giasson is leading a project titled « Valorization of wood damaged by spruce budworm outbreaks for particleboard production ». His research directly addresses the supply challenges faced by the Canadian composite panel industry. In a context marked by increasing natural disturbances, such as forest fires and insect outbreaks, as well as growing competition from the bioenergy sector, identifying new sources of lignocellulosic raw material has become essential.
His work aims to better understand the potential use of damaged wood, particularly spruce budworm–affected balsam fir, for particleboard manufacturing. The study is based on balsam fir samples classified into three degradation levels (H-2, H-3, and H-4), allowing an assessment of the impact of these conditions on the physico-mechanical properties of the produced panels.
The results show that panels made from H-2 wood (heavily defoliated living trees, up to approximately 75%) and H-3 wood (dead trees with intact bark) meet industry mechanical standards, unlike those produced from H-4 wood (dead trees with detached bark). Although the physical properties remain generally lower than those of control material, the study highlights the potential for performance optimization through adjustments to manufacturing parameters.
This work opens concrete prospects for increased valorization of degraded forest biomass, contributing to more sustainable resource management and strengthening the industry’s resilience in the face of climate change.
By receiving this award, Louis-David Giasson sees the relevance and impact of his research recognized by the scientific community. His work exemplifies how innovation can transform environmental constraints into industrial opportunities.
👏 Congratulations, Louis-David, on this well-deserved recognition!