Professor Hee‑jun Park (Department of Housing Environmental Design, College of Human Ecology) received the 32nd Outstanding Paper Award in Science and Technology, organized by the Korea Federation of Science and Technology Societies. The award ceremony was held on the 29th at the 2022 Korea Science and Technology Annual Conference. This award selects recipients from papers published in domestic journals during the previous year, with each academic society recommending one outstanding paper.

The awarded paper is titled 'Research on Flame Retardant Plywood with Different Flame Retardants,' which Professor Park presented to the Korean Wood Science and Technology Society last year.

This research addresses the flammability problem of wood. It concerns not only the fire safety of the 'non-combustible wood' developed by Professor Park but also the development of a flame-retardant adhesive applicable to the manufacture of wood-based materials.

The developed adhesive not only maintains bonding performance but also prevents fire spread, a vulnerability of wood. Consequently, it attracted attention as research that can contribute to the manufacture of fire-resistant functional wood products.

Through continuous wood-related research, Professor Park has conducted research since 2018 on the 'development of high value-added advanced technologies for wood resources,' promoting the commercialization and industrialization of domestic wood resources.

Professor Park said, 'I have devoted myself to research with the belief that wood can change the world in the era of carbon neutrality, and as a result I have achieved good outcomes. I will strive to create new high value-added benefits derived from wood through research and technology development that leverage wood's advantages.'

Meanwhile, Professor Park received national new technology certifications in 2014 and 2016 for the development of flame-retardant and fire-resistant wood, and in 2018 Professor Park received the Agricultural, Forestry and Food Science and Technology Grand Prize. In April this year, Professor Park was awarded the 'Korea Wood Engineering Award Grand Prize,' the highest honor in the field of wood engineering.