Origin of the museum

Origin of the museum
              The Northeastern Research Institute of Petrified Wood and Mineral Resources (In Honor of His Majesty the King), Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University, originated from the provincial meeting on "Natural resources and environment of Korat in the next decade" at Sima Thani Hotel on November 17, 1994. Asst. Prof. Dr. Pratueng Jintasakul, Head of the Department of Geography, Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat Institute (at that time) was a panelist and discussed the critical situation of petrified wood as well as proposed conservation projects in the form of parks and museums. The provincial governor, Mr. Suporn Supasorn, also participated in the meeting. He declared to support the conservation projects and approved a budget of 1 million baht to Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat Institute to prepare a master plan for petrified wood preservation and petrified wood museum design.

             The Petrified Wood Museum was built on 80.5 rai (12.88 hectares) of land that was approved to be utilized by the Suranaree Subdistrict Administrative Organization, resulting in investments of over 180 million baht for the project. The success was mainly because of the attention of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and the support from Mr. Suwat Liptapanlop, former Minister of Industry, as well as the coordination of Doctor Wannarat Channukul. The Provincial Office of Nakhon Ratchasima also provided support for exhibitions in the museums, roads construction and landscape works. Other agencies gave additional support, including  the Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Administrative Organization, the Provincial Public Works Office, the Tourism Authority of Thailand at Nakhon Ratchasima, and Suranaree Subdistrict Administration Office.

Determination

             Be a leader in fossil preservation, create a new body of knowledge, advance to UNESCO Global Geopark, and aim to be UNESCO’s Triple Crown.

Identity

             Conservation, academic services, and local fossil research

Philosophy

             Learning from the past...understanding the present, and imagining the future

Vision

             We will be a national and international center of excellence in research, learning and academic services in paleontology and also the administrative center of the UNESCO Khorat Aspiring Global Geopark, including to be a world leader in petrified wood and ancient elephant museums and the ASEAN leader in dinosaur museums.

Mission

             - Survey and conserve local paleontological and geological resources
             - Research and publicize on paleontology and geological resources
             - Provide academic services paleontology, geological resources and geoparks
             - Manage and develop the institute to be the center of the UNESCO Khorat Aspiring Global Geopark