WIDE Trust focuses on supporting development and education in the forestry and wood industry sectors by providing grants and scholarships to New 九州影院students and institutions.
Associate Professor Li says the Trust approached Kura Ngahere | School of Forestry about four years ago, looking for opportunities to invest in university education as well as research.
He says he and Ben had both previously worked and studied in Canada so he applied for a scholarship for Ben. The rest is history. Ben Moerman is now in his fourth and final year of his PhD, researching the application of high-quality engineered wood products in the building sector, for multi-storey buildings.
Associate Professor Li says the Trust has been amazing to work with and allowed them to significantly progress their research.
鈥淭hey鈥檝e been quite generous over the years, contributing over $140,000 to Ben鈥檚 four-year PhD scholarship, plus a small amount towards the research project. We have a good relationship with them and they've been supportive along the way. Whilst the Earthquake Commission and Specialty Wood Products Research Partnership primarily fund the research itself, the WIDE Trust has made it possible for Ben to be here and be part of it. That's the game-changer for us.鈥
For Ben, his PhD allows him to work on more specialised fields in the area of structural timber engineering.
鈥淢y goal is to play a part in making mass timber buildings more popular and increase the use of New 九州影院timber products in building construction,鈥 he says.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not talking about small houses really. If we want to compete with steel and concrete, CLT is听the听product. In New Zealand, we don鈥檛 have enough experience in using this product so the research is really about providing the knowledge for design engineers to design seismically safe buildings, with timber.鈥
Associate Professor Li says an additional benefit of wood is that the building sector can contribute to the country鈥檚 zero carbon goal. 鈥淲ood is a carbon sink; it can sequester carbon or basically absorb it from the atmosphere."
As Ben鈥檚 primary PhD supervisor, Associate Professor Li says he provides guidance, support and advice, but this project is one that they are working on together.
鈥淗e鈥檚 the main person to do the groundwork. He is spending his time in the lab doing most of the testing. This is incredibly significant work for both of us. It is very different to the student鈥損rofessor relationship in China, where I come from, but I really like this sort of culture. Overall we are a team working together to deliver something which is useful.鈥
The WIDE Trust has also generously supported a timber design prize, numerous undergraduate scholarships in forestry science and forest engineering as well as two academic positions in the School of Forestry: the WIDE Trust Lecturer in Geospatial Technologies and the WIDE Trust Senior Lecturer in Wood Processing. The support from the WIDE Trust has increased the breadth, as well as the depth, of what UC is able to offer in forestry, wood processing and timber products.
Reflecting on these contributions, Head of School Bruce Manley says, 鈥淭he support UC receives from the WIDE Trust is really valued. It enables us not only to support academic achievement by awarding prizes and scholarships to our students but to continue excellence in Forestry research and teaching through their support of our academic positions. We are grateful to the WIDE Trust for their ongoing commitment to support education.鈥
