| Thai Soil Scientist Knighted. At an investiture held at the Dusit Maha Prasart Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 5th, 2003, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej conferred the title of GRAND COMPANION OF THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS ORDER OF CHULA CHOM KLAO on Dr. Pisoot Vijarnsorn. This Order is equivalent to a knighthood. Dr. Pisoot is currently the Senior Specialist on Soil Survey and Classification at the Land Development Department, Bangkok, Thailand. He studied at Kasetsart University, Bangkok and obtained his Masters at University of Illinois and Ph D at the University of Tokyo. He was national soil correlator for a long time and recently produced the Soil Map of Thailand, which was exhibited during the World Soil Congress at Bangkok in 2002. Dr. Pisoot devoted considerable amount of his time in helping people to use soil information. With this interest, he was intimately involved in the land development projects initiated by the King and also served as an advisor to the Princess. He has always been very active in the Soil and Fertilizer Society of Thailand and has attended many of the recent World Congresses. He is well known to all those who have visited Thailand to attend the many meetings and workshops that have been held here. Apart from his knowledge, everyone remembers Pisoot for his humor that has no bounds, and his ability to make everyone feel at home. It is not often that a soil scientist is recognized at the highest level in his/her country and all scientists pay tribute to Sir Pisoot for his accomplishments and wishes him continued success before and after his retirement on November, 2004. Source: Hari Eswaran (2003) |