Benny K.G. Theng is an honorary research associate with Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research in Palmerston North, New Zealand (NZ). Before joining the research staff of MW-LC in 1992, he was a senior scientist with the NZ Soil Bureau, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR). The focus of his distinguished research career has been on the behavior and reactivity of small and polymeric organic compounds at clay mineral surfaces. He was born in Indonesia but did all his undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the University of Adelaide, Australia, gaining a PhD degree in soil science. He was a research fellow, lecturer, mentor, and visiting scientist at several universities and research institutes in Australia, Belgium, Germany, Japan, France, Chile, and China. He also did some consulting work for clay-based companies in America and Europe. He is the recipient of a senior Humboldt fellowship (Germany), an Adam Hilger Prize (UK) for his first book, the ICI Prize (NZ) for chemical research, and the Bailey Distinguished Member Award for outstanding contributions to clay science from the Clay Minerals Society (USA). He is a Fellow of the NZ Institute of Chemistry, NZ Society of Soil Science, and the Royal Society of New Zealand. He likes reading historical books and thrillers, playing contract bridge, and listening to classical and chamber music.
