Kalaya Sophonpanich

Kalaya Sophonpanich (Thai: กัลยา โสภณพนิช; RTGS: Kanlaya Sophonphanit; Chinese: 龍宛虹; pinyin: Lóng Wǎnhóng;[1] born 21 September 1940) is a Chinese-Thai politician who was the Minister of Science and Technology of Thailand in 2008 to 2010.

Kalaya Sophonpanich
กัลยา โสภณพนิช
Kalaya Sophonpanich in 2010
Minister of Science and Technology
In office
20 December 2008  6 June 2010
Prime MinisterAbhisit Vejjajiva
Preceded byWuttipong Chaisang
Succeeded byVirachai Virameteekul
Personal details
Born (1940-09-21) September 21, 1940
Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
NationalityThai
Political partyDemocrat Party
Spouse(s)Chote Sophonpanich
Alma mater

Early life and education

Kalaya is the daughter-in-law of Chin Sophonpanich and the wife of Chote Sophonpanich.[2]

Kalaya graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Honors) from the Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University in 1961 and received a Colombo to study for a master's degree and receiving scholarships at the doctoral level Nuclear Physics at Imperial College, London and earned a Ph.D. in High Energy Nuclear Physics in 1970.[3][4]

Careers

She was one of the founders of the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center, or NECTEC, in 1986. Then she was the founder and president of the Prapakarnpanya Foundation for helping Mentally Retarded People of Thailand under royal patronage. Kalaya is more widely known when applying for the Governor of Bangkok in 2000 as an independent candidate, getting number 4 even though not elected but has gained popularity with the people of Bangkok. Later became a member Democrat Party who is applying to be a member of the House of Representatives in the elections 2001 and 2005. Subsequently, she was appointed as the Minister of Science and Technology in the government of Abhisit Vejjajiva after the cabinet reshuffle in June 2010 made Kalaya was fined from the position of minister.[5]

References


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