Endel Laas facts for kids

Endel Laas (born August 29, 1915, died November 1, 2009) was an important Estonian forest scientist and professor. He spent many years teaching about forestry at the University of Life Sciences. In 1999, he received a special award called the Order of the White Star, third class, for his great work.

Life of a Forest Scientist

Growing Up and Learning

Endel Laas was born in Tartu, Estonia, on August 29, 1915. He was the ninth child in his family! His father used to be a coachman and later ran a tea house and restaurant. The family lived near Tartu for a while before moving back into the city in 1930.

Endel started Tartu IV elementary school in 1926. From 1930 to 1935, he studied at the Tartu Boys' Gymnasium. After that, he served in the military. He then went to the University of Tartu and studied forestry. He graduated with honors in 1940.

A Career in Forestry

After finishing university, Endel Laas worked as a forester near the Narva River from 1940 to 1941. During World War II, in 1941, he joined the Red Army.

After the war, Laas continued his career as a scientist. In 1946, he became a lecturer at the University of Tartu. From 1951, he continued teaching at the Estonian Agricultural Academy, which was a separate school.

He became a professor in 1976. From 1960 to 1985, he was the Dean of the Forestry and Land Reclamation Faculty. This meant he was in charge of the department that taught students about forests and how to improve land.

Towards the end of the Soviet era in Estonia, Endel Laas helped restart a student club called the Student Society Liivika in 1990.

Endel Laas passed away on November 1, 2009, when he was 94 years old. His son, Eino-Endel Laas, also became a forest researcher and teaches at the Estonian University of Life Sciences. He received the Order of the White Star, fifth class, in 2016.