Paul Kibblewhite facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paul Kibblewhite
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|---|---|
| Born |
Robert Paul Kibblewhite
20 April 1941 |
| Died | 20 August 2015 (aged 74) Rotorua, New Zealand
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| Alma mater | University of Auckland Institute of Paper Chemistry |
| Known for | Understanding the properties of wood fibres |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Pulp and papermaking |
| Institutions | New Zealand Forest Research Institute |
| Thesis | Intercellular adhesion in resin canal tissue isolated from slash pine chlorite holocellulose (1969) |
| Doctoral advisor | N.S. Thompson |
Robert Paul Kibblewhite was a New Zealand scientist. He was famous for studying wood fibers. His work helped the pulp and paper industry make better products.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Paul Kibblewhite was born on April 20, 1941. He went to Marlborough College in Blenheim.
In 1960, he started training with the New Zealand Forest Service. They sent him to the University of Auckland. He earned a science degree in botany there in 1965.
He then went to the United States for more study. He attended the Institute of Paper Chemistry. This school was part of Lawrence University in Wisconsin. He earned a master's degree in chemical engineering in 1967. Then, he got his PhD in 1969.
Researching Wood Fibers
After finishing his PhD, Kibblewhite returned to New Zealand. He joined the New Zealand Forest Research Institute in Rotorua. This institute is now called Scion. He worked there for his entire career.
In 1983, he became the leader of the fiber and paper research team. When he retired in 2009, Scion named him their first "emeritus status scientist." This means he was a highly respected scientist who continued to be connected to the institute.
Paul Kibblewhite became a world expert on wood fibers. He wrote or helped write 144 scientific papers.
What He Studied
His research focused on how wood fibers behave. He looked at fibers made from both softwoods and hardwoods. These fibers are used to make paper. He studied how different ways of processing wood affected the paper's quality.
He worked closely with paper companies in New Zealand. His research helped make many paper products much better. He also helped create "Kibblewhite's kink index" with Diane Brookes. This tool helps measure how much wood fibers bend during processing.
Later Life and Challenges
Paul Kibblewhite was born with very poor eyesight. His eyes got worse over time. By the late 1990s, he needed a guide dog to help him.
In 2003, he was hiking in Tongariro National Park. His guide dog, a white Labrador named Taupo, got sick. Taupo needed to be flown out by helicopter but made a full recovery. In 2007, Paul and Taupo returned to finish the hike.
Paul Kibblewhite passed away at his home in Rotorua on August 20, 2015.
Awards and Recognition
Paul Kibblewhite received many honors for his work:
- In 1988, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand.
- In 1993, he was named a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). This award was for his great service to science.
- In 2000, he received the Shorland Medal. This award recognized his lifelong contributions to paper research.
