DR. NARONG AWARDED FIRST PRIZE OF THE VETIVER NETWORK

Dr. Narong accepting the Vetiver Network's First Prize from H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn at the Third International Conference on Vetiver in Guangzhou, China, October 6,2003.

Dr. Narong accompanies H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, Patron of the Vetiver Network, at the ICV-3 Farewell Dinner, Guaugdong Hotel, Guangzhou, China, October 8,2003.

Dr. Narong presents a plenary lecture on "Other Uses and Utilization of Vetiver" at ICV-3, on October 6,2003 at Guangzhou, China.

Dr. Narong Chomchalow, Editor of the AU Journal of Technology, has recently won the First Prize in the category "Dissemination of the Vetiver System", of The Vetiver Network which is based in Washington DC, USA. The award, which carries the prize money of US$ 3,000, was conferred by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn during the Opening Ceremony of the Third International Conference on Vetiver held in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China during 6-9 October 2003. The citation of the award reads: "The Board of The Vetiver Network recognizes the Outstanding Contribution to the Research and Development of the Vetiver System ralating to the Dissemination of the Vetiver Information by awarding First Prize to Narong Chomchalow of the Pacific Rim Vetiver Network''.

Dr. Narong has been active in vetiver research and development since the time he worked as the Regional Plant Production Officer of the F AO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. He has been a member of the Vetiver Committee of the Office of the Royal Development Projects Board. He has also been the Coordinator of the Pacific Rim Vetiver Network (PRVN), established with the approval of His Majesty the King having the Office of Royal Development Projects Board as the Secretariat, to disseminate the information on vetiver to 20 member countries of the Pacific Rim. He is the Editor of Vetiverim, a quarterly newsletter of PRVN, and also the Editor of the technical bulletins of PRVN. It was these outstanding works that he had accomplished for PRVN, which won him the prestigious award mentioned above.

Dr.Narong is the key person in the organization of the International Conferences on Vetiver, starting from the First International Conference on Vetiver (ICV -1) held in Chiang Rai, Thailand in 1996. He drafted the Constitution of the International Conference on Vetiver and holds the post of Secretary of the Continuing Committee of ICV from the beginning. He was the Chairman of the Scientific Committee of ICV-2 held in Cha-am, Phetchaburi in 2000, and Vice Chairman of the Academic Committee of ICV-3 held in Guangzhou in 2003. He is also the Chairman of the Selection Committee (Dissemination Category) of the King of Thailand Vetiver Awards. These awards, which carried a total prize money of US$ 10,000 granted by Her Royal Highness Princess Maria Chakri Sirindhorn, were given to outstanding vetiver researchers and disseminators during ICV-2 and ICV-3.

During ICV-3, he presented a plenary paper on "Other Uses, and Utilization of Vetiver", and delivered the "Concluding Remarks" on "The Role of Vetiver in Regulating the Quantity and Quality of Water". He was nominated to be the Chairman of the Continuing. Committee for ICV-4.

Prior to ICV-3, he hand-carried a plant of Champi Sirindhorn (Magnolia sirindhorniae Noot et Chalerglin), a newly discovered plant which bears the name of the Princess, and which was planted on 5 October 2003 by Her Royal High-ness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn herself at the South China Botanical Garden in Guangzhou.

Reported by Dr. Narong C.

ABAC Today Assumption University, Thailand