Kalaya Sophonpanich

Kalaya Sophonpanich (Thai: กัลยา โสภณพนิช; RTGS: Kanlaya Sophonphanit; Chinese: 龍宛虹; pinyin: Lóng Wǎnhóng;[2] born 21 September 1940) is a Thai physicist and politician who served as the Minister of Science and Technology from 2008 to 2010.

Khun Ying[1]
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
Deputy Minister of Education
In office
10 July 2019 – 1 September 2023
Prime MinisterPrayut Chan-o-cha
Personal details
Born (1940-09-21) 21 September 1940
Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
Political partyDemocrat Party
SpouseChote Sophonpanich
Alma mater
ProfessionPhysicist

Early life and education

Kalaya is the daughter-in-law of Chin Sophonpanich and the wife of Chote Sophonpanich.[3] She graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Honors) from the Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University in 1961 and received a Colombo scholarship 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.[4][5]

Careers

She was a co-founder of the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (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 she became a member of Democrat Party who applied to be a member of the House of Representatives in the elections of 2001 and 2005.

She was appointed Minister of Science and Technology in the 2008 cabinet of Abhisit Vejjajiva. She was replaced by Virachai Virameteekul after the cabinet reshuffle in June 2010.[6]

She was appointed Deputy Minister of Education in the Second Prayut cabinet on 10 July 2019.[7] When the minister, Nataphol Teepsuwan, was removed after being convicted by the Criminal Court in early 2021, she also served as acting minister until the appointment of Trinuch Thienthong.[8]

References
  1. "Curriculum Vitae Dr. Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich". dev1.colorpack.net.
  2. Xiao, Wenxuan (June 2014). "當代泰國華人政治認同與角色變遷之研究" (PDF). Feng Chia University Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences. 28: 140.
  3. "ดร.คุณหญิงกัลยา โสภณพนิช". 8 July 2021. Archived from the original on 20 January 2010.
  4. "ดร.คุณหญิงกัลยา โสภณพนิช รัฐมนตรีช่วยว่าการกระทรวงศึกษาธิการ มอบนโยบายแก่ผู้บริหารและเจ้าหน้าที่ สมศ". Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  5. "ประวัติ "คุณหญิงกัลยา โสภณพนิช" รมช.ศธ. สมาชิกครม. ที่อายุมากที่สุด". Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  6. "ให้รัฐมนตรีพ้นจากความเป็นรัฐมนตรีและแต่งตั้งรัฐมนตรี" (PDF) (in Thai). Royal Thai Government Gazette. 8 June 2010. p. 2. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  7. "PM Prayut's cabinet announced". Thai PBS World. Thai Public Broadcasting Service. 10 July 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  8. "Acting replacement ministers for Education and Digital Economy and Society announced". Thai PBS World. Thai Public Broadcasting Service. 25 February 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
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