Trondheim, NORWAY--June 22, 2004-- P. L. Ridgway, R. E. Russo, E. F. Lafond, C. C. Habeger, and T. Jackson have been awarded the 2004 Van den Akker Prize for Paper Physics. Their paper, "Laser Ultrasonic System for On-Line Measurement of Elastic Properties of Paper" , Journal of Pulp and Paper Science, Vol. 29, No. 9, pp. 289-293 September 2003, has been selected by an international panel of judges as the greatest contribution to the field of paper physics this year.

The Johannes A. Van den Akker Prize for Advances in Paper Physics was established in 1999 by IPST, with an endowment made possible through the generous donations of the family, friends, and students of Dr. Van den Akker, a former senior research associate and Chairman of the Department of Physics and Mathematics at the Institute of Paper Chemistry (IPC). The Van den Akker Prize is awarded annually through the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI) Paper Physics Committee, of which Dr. Van den Akker was a member for many years.

The Van den Akker Prize for Paper Physics is awarded annually to the author[s] of the best paper published in the area of fiber and paper physics during the preceding calendar year. It is intended to recognize publications that make a significant contribution to the field of paper physics. The award this year consisted of a $500 honorarium per person and award medal(s). Nominations of outstanding papers for award consideration were solicited from members of the TAPPI Paper Physics Committee, journal editors, conference proceedings editors, and other paper scientists active in the area of paper physics.

The award was presented at the Progress in Paper Physics Seminar, in Trondheim , Norway June 21 to 24, 2004 . This paper was also awarded the TAPPI JOURNAL Editorial Board's 2003 Outstanding Research Paper Award. One judge for the Van Den Akker Prize stated, that their “choice was influenced both of the quality of the paper and my view on what are interesting and useful research topics.” Another judge stated that “the investigators explored and tested the correlation deeper than (just) by looking at experimental error.” In the paper, the authors provided convincing results of the first successful application of non-contact laser ultrasonics to evaluate elastic properties of paper on a pilot paper machine running at high speeds.

The Johannes A. Van den Akker Prize for Advances in Paper Physics was created to recognize the best contribution made to the field of paper physics and to the paper industry each year. Dr. Van den Akker was known for his brilliant mind, demand for excellence, and leadership in the field of paper physics for over 40 years.