Dr Dave Cown

Senior Scientist

Contact

Qualifications

PhD (Wood Science) University of British Columbia, Canada -1976
BSc For (Hons) University of Aberdeen, Scotland -1967

Research capabilities

  • Wood quality – factors influencing the formation of wood, and the impact of variable wood quality on product performance and value.
  • Wood processing – wood quality factors affecting the value of solid wood processed through sawmills. Technology for extracting value from logs. 

Career highlights

  • Appointment as Board Member and international Coordinator of IUFRO Division 5 (Forest Products),
  • Associate Editor of Canadian Journal of Forest Science, and South African Journal of Forestry.
  • One of four Objective Leaders of WQI (Wood Quality Initiative) Ltd., 2003- 2009.
  • Primarily responsible for setting up and managing the Value Recovery Programme - the single largest industry, multi-client research activity in NZ and integrated across the value chain. 1996-98.
  • Major contributions to collaborative projects with industry – the Radiata Pine Task Force and Conversion Planning Projects. Started FRI Sawmilling research 1980s, and instituted the New Zealand Sawmill Improvement programme in 1986. 

Selected papers

Cown, D.J. and Sorensson, C. 2008: Can use of clones improve wood quality? New Zealand Journal of Forestry 52(4): 14-19.

Cown, D.J. 2008: Redwood in New Zealand – an end-user perspective. New Zealand Journal of Forestry 52(4): 35-41.

Cown, D.J. 2007: Role of intensively managed forests in future timber supply. CAB Reviews: Perspectives in Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Nutrition and Natural Resources, 2007, 2, No. 023, 12 pp. http://www.cababstractsplus.org/cabreviews/reviews.asp

Cown, D.J. 2006: Understanding and managing wood quality for improving product value in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science 35(2/3): 205-220.

Cown, D.J., van Wyk, J.L. 2004: Profitable wood processing – what does it take? Good wood! NZ Journal of Forestry 49(1): 10-15.

Burdon, R.D.; Walker, J.C.F.; Megraw, R.A.; Evans, R.; Cown, D.J. 2004: Juvenile wood (sensu novo) in pine: Conflicts and possible opportunities for growing, processing and utilisation. NZ Journal of Forestry, November, 2004: 24-31.

Burdon, R.D.; Kibblewhite, R.P.; Walker, J.C.F.; Megraw, R.A.; Evans, R.; Cown, D.J. 2003: Juvenile vs. mature wood: a new concept, orthogonal from corewood versus outerwood, with special reference to Pinus radiata and P. taeda. Forest Science Vol. 50(4): 399-415.