in memoriam - Biauw Tjwan Kang PhD (1932 - 2008)
Biauw Tjwan Kang, 76, a resident of Haverhill (USA) for the past 10 years, passed away Saturday, February 2, 2008, at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.
Born and raised in Indonesia, he graduated from Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) Indonesia, in 1958 and completed his PhD in Agronomy from Purdue University in 1962.
He was Principal Soil Scientist and Agroforester at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria for over twenty years.
In addition, he was a visiting scientist at the University of Florida, University of Reading, University of Georgia, and University of Hawaii.
Dr. Kang pioneered the scientific development of the alley cropping/farming system as an alternative to the slash-and-burn land rotation farming system, and established the first agroforestry arboreta in tropical Africa. He authored or coauthored over 170 publications including refereed articles, books, and book chapters in soil science and agroforestry.
Dr. Kang supervised many graduate research scholars from developing and developed countries. Throughout his professional career he lectured extensively worldwide at universities and agricultural research institutions.
He received the prestigious 1990 Swedish Innovations for Development Association Honourable Mention Award for successfully implementing alley cropping in Nigeria, Philippines, and Indonesia with the following citation: Dr. Kang’s system makes permanent, sustainable cultivation of the soil possible, even with increased population density. He was the recipient of the 1995 International Soil Science Award from the American Soil Science Society. While the scientific recognitions were professionally gratifying, Dr. Kang personally cherished the chieftaincy title of Babaleye Agbe received from Alabata village in Nigeria for his contributions to its agricultural development.
He was a member of numerous professional societies including the American Society of Agronomy, Soil Society of America and the International Society of Soil Science. He served as reviewing editor for many scientific journals.
Following his retirement, Dr. Kang continued his passion for scientific research for several years, but in recent years began focusing his creativity and diligence on wood carving as a personal hobby.
He is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, Jeanette Kang, four children, Antonia Saddington, Sandra Kang, Norbert Kang, and Juanita Kang, three sons-in-law, Hugh Saddington, K. Ramesh, and Cheuw Lee Yeo, a daughter-in-law, Louisa Kang, two grandsons, Alex and Marcus, and six granddaughters Kartini, Frannie, Louisa, Theresa, Antonia, and Anna.
