Golf courses, resorts, and homeowner lawns across the Islands rely on Hawai‘i sunshine, good irrigation, and the expert guidance of Zhiqiang Cheng of the Dept. of Plant & Environmental Protection Sciences.
Zhiqiang, an associate Extension specialist in turfgrass and landscape pest management, was honored with the 2019 Award of Arboricultural Research from the Western Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture (WCISA).
The award recognizes an “outstanding contribution to research that has contributed substantially to the sum of knowledge of arboriculture [and] that has had significant and relevant impact to the Western Chapter ISA.” Specifically, Zhiqiang was named for his research on managing pests of urban landscape trees, such as Ficus stem and leaf gall wasps, lobate lac scale, and coconut rhinoceros beetle.
“I am deeply honored to receive this award from WCISA,” Zhiqiang says. “It’s been at least a decade since a scientist in Hawai‘i won. It’s great to know our research at CTAHR is being recognized by the international arborist community, and our impact is being felt, both here at home and beyond our shores.”
WCISA will present the award to Zhiqiang during its annual meeting in November. View the awards page.