Dr. Menandro N. Acda received the Centennial Professorial Chair award and presented his lecture entitled “Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC) of Rice Husk for Production of High Energy Solid Fuel” via Zoom, on the 25th of May 2022. The University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) awarded Dr. Acda for his consistent exemplary teaching and research performance in the field of Forest Products and Wood Science. Currently a Professor at the Department of Forest Products and Paper Science, College of Forestry and Natural Resources (DFPPS, CFNR), Dr. Acda is a highly recognized scientist in the field of wood materials science, biobased composites, and tropical termite biology and control. He is the only Filipino recipient of the prestigious Charles Lindbergh Research Grant, and was included in the Asian Scientist 100 list in 2017. He is also the inventor of LaharGard®, a termite barrier using volcanic debris, and the Featherboard®, a keratin fiber cement composite. The Professorial Chair Lecture started with the opening remarks of Dr. Dixon T. Gevaña, Director of the Training Center for Tropical Resources and Ecosystems (TREES, CFNR). In his speech, he emphasized the growing need for programs to pursue the transformation of agricultural wastes to clean energy. He also added that it would be fascinating to learn how the HTC process can convert these wastes into fuel. In the lecture proper, Dr. Acda presented various biomass resources and several pathways to convert these resources into fuel, as a response to the rising demand of renewable energy. With 2.3 million tons of rice husk being disposed annually, he focused on utilizing this resource as the primary raw material for fuel production. Using the HTC process parameters he developed, densified pellets were successfully produced with potential for use as fuel in boilers and furnaces. Among the attendees of the lecture were Dr. Brigid Chin Lai Fui, Associate Professor at the Chemical and Energy Engineering Department, Curtin University Malaysia. She served as a discussant, giving critique and sharing her insights on the lecture. In one of her comments, she pointed out the sustainability aspects of the process. Dr. Acda responded that further studies are being conducted in the hopes that, in the near future, the energy output of the produced solid fuel can offset the energy requirements. Aside from UPLB students, faculty, and staff, there were also attendees from various state universities and colleges nationwide. There were some from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, from the Department of Science and Technology, from several private companies, and from local government units. A total of about 140 participants attended the lecture. The program ended with the closing remarks of Dr. Tomas D. Reyes, head of the Office of the Coordinator for Research Extension and Linkages (OCREL, UPLB). He hoped that more research on this subject matter can be produced, and that more of the younger generation researchers become involved in the future. The event was just the first Centennial Professorial Chair Lecture this 2022. For updates on future professorial lectures and other events, announcements are made through the official UPLB websites and social media pages. By: Asst. Prof. Glenn Christian Acaso