Robert Paul Kibblewhite (20 April 1941 – 20 August 2015) was a New Zealand scientist noted for his research into the properties of wood fibre, particularly in relation to the pulp and paper industry.

Early life and education

Born on 20 April 1941, Kibblewhite was educated at

Marlborough College Marlborough College is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school (English Independent school (United Kingdom), independent boarding school) for pupils aged 13 to 18 in Marlborough, Wiltshire, England. Founded in 1843 for the sons of Church ...

in Blenheim. Joining the New Zealand Forest Service as a trainee in 1960, he was sent to study at the University of Auckland, from where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in botany in 1965. He then undertook postgraduate study in the United States at the

Institute of Paper Chemistry The Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI), is a research institute at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Founded in 1929 as the Institute of Paper Chemistry in Appleton, Wisconsin, it moved to Georgia Tech's campus in 1989, and integrated its op ...

, at that time part of Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, graduating with an MS in chemical engineering in 1967 and a

PhD PHD or PhD may refer to: * Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), an academic qualification Entertainment * '' PhD: Phantasy Degree'', a Korean comic series * ''Piled Higher and Deeper'', a web comic * Ph.D. (band), a 1980s British group ** Ph.D. (Ph.D. albu ...

in 1969. His thesis was entitled ''Intercellular adhesion in resin canal tissue isolated from slash pine chlorite holocellulose''.

Research career

Following his PhD, Kibblewhite returned to the

New Zealand Forest Research Institute Scion, officially registered as New Zealand Forest Research Institute Limited, is a New Zealand Crown Research Institute with its primary areas of research, science and technology development being in the areas of forestry, wood products, wood- ...

(now known as Scion) in

Rotorua Rotorua () is a city in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand's North Island. The city lies on the southern shores of Lake Rotorua, from which it takes its name. It is the seat of the Rotorua Lakes District, a territorial authority encompass ...

, where he remained for the rest of his working life. In 1983 he became head of the fibre and paper research programme. When he retired from Scion in 2009, Kibblewhite was named as that institution's first emeritus status scientist. During his career he became an international authority on wood fibre, and authored or co-authored 144 refereed publications. His research was concerned with the properties of wood fibres produced from the

mechanical Mechanical may refer to: Machine * Machine (mechanical), a system of mechanisms that shape the actuator input to achieve a specific application of output forces and movement * Mechanical calculator, a device used to perform the basic operations of ...

and

chemical pulping Paper chemicals designate a group of chemicals that are used for paper manufacturing, or modify the properties of paper. These chemicals can be used to alter the paper in many ways, including changing its color and brightness, or by increasing i ...

of both hardwoods and softwoods, and the effects of those properties on the paper manufactured using the fibres. He investigated the many variables in the pulping and papermaking processes, and worked closely with the pulp and paper industry in New Zealand. His research brought about quality improvements for many paper products. With Diane Brookes he also developed what has become known as "Kibblewhite's kink index", which is used to quantify deformations in wood fibres arising during processing.

Later life

Kibblewhite was born extremely short-sighted: his retinas began disintegrating in the late 1960s, and by the late 1990s he needed the assistance of a guide dog. In 2003, while

tramping Tramping may refer to: Travel *Hiking *Trekking *Tramping in New Zealand, a style of backpacking or hiking * Czech tramping, a Czech outdoors pastime Places * Rural Municipality of Tramping Lake No. 380, Saskatchewan, Canada ** Tramping Lake, Sas ...

with a group in the Tongariro National Park, his guide dog named Taupo, a white Labrador, was poisoned and required medical evacuation by helicopter. Taupo made a full recovery. In 2007 the pair returned to complete the

Tongariro Alpine Crossing The Tongariro Alpine Crossing in Tongariro National Park is a tramping track in New Zealand, and is among the most popular day hikes in the country. The Tongariro National Park is a World Heritage site which has the distinction of dual status, ...

. Kibblewhite died at his home in Rotorua on 20 August 2015.

Honours

Kibblewhite was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 1988. In the

1993 Queen's Birthday Honours The 1993 Queen's Birthday honours were appointments by some of the 16 Commonwealth realms to various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by citizens of those countries. The Birthday Honours are awarded as part of the Queen's ...

, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to science. He was awarded the

Shorland Medal The Shorland Medal is awarded annually by the New Zealand Association of Scientists in recognition of a "major and continued contribution to basic or applied research that has added significantly to scientific understanding or resulted in signific ...

by the New Zealand Association of Scientists in 2000, in recognition of his lifetime contribution to pulp and paper research.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kibblewhite, Paul 1941 births 2015 deaths New Zealand scientists New Zealand chemical engineers People educated at Marlborough Boys' College University of Auckland alumni Lawrence University alumni Fellows of the Royal Society of New Zealand New Zealand Members of the Order of the British Empire