Science Education and the Science Society of Thailand

Under Patronage of HM The King  

M.R. Jisnuson SvastiPresident, Science Society of Thailand under Patronage of H.M. the King; Professor, Dept. of Biochemistry and Head, Center of Protein Structure and 

Function, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, ThailandE-mail: scjsv@mahidol.ac.th

Importance of Science and Technology

o Science and Technology are important for a country to compete with otherso Research creates new products for the global marketo Development of national infrastructureo Improving health and quality of life of the population

o Basic knowledge of science and understanding basic scientific principles is essential for every day lifeo Technology and novel products are part of daily lifeo Science teaches people to think analytically and creativelyo Personal integrity is a basic principle in undertaking science

Rank Country No. Papers Rank Country No. Papers

1 USA >300,000 26 Greece 9,279

2 Peoples R China * 86,017 27 Finland 9,078

3 Germany 79,971 28 Norway 7,368

4 Japan 78,306 29 Mexico 7,348

5 England 75,531 30 Singapore 6,973

6 France 57,483 31 Czech Republic 6,724

7 Canada 47,943 32 Portugal 6,656

8 Italy 44,457 33 Ireland 6,508

9 Spain 35,048 34 Iran 6,239

10 Australia 30,789 35 New Zealand 5,842

11 South Korea 28,893 36 Argentina 5,552

12 India 28,862 37 South Africa 5,471

13 Netherlands 25,852 38 Hungary 5,170

14 Russia 24,249 39 Wales 4,001

15 Brazil 19,206 40 Ukraine 3,917

16 Switzerland 18,801 41 Chile 3,333

17 Taiwan 18,540 42 Thailand 3,236

18 Sweden 17,981 43 Egypt 3,210

19 Turkey 15,936 44 Romania 2,852

20 Poland 15,035 45 Slovakia 2,399

21 Belgium 13,956 46 Slovenia 2,187

22 Israel 11,597 47 Croatia 1,962

23 Scotland 11,235 48 Malaysia 1,879

24 Denmark 9,740 49 North Ireland 1,866

25 Austria 9,487 50 Bulgaria 1,713

* Peoples R. China includes Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR / Types : Article, Review, LetterRucharekaAsavisanu

World Publications Thailand is 42nd in World, 7th in Asia and 2nd in ASEAN [from ISI Web of

Science Databases Year 2006]

Thailand Has Too Few Researchers so may not benefit much from recent advances in 

biotechnology & nanotechnology

• Shortage of Researchers: Researchers per 10,000 pop.  Singapore 60.1, Australia, 54.4, Malaysia 7.0, Thailand 5.4

• Low expenditure on Research & Development as % GDP   Singapore 2.36,  Australia 1.62, Malaysia 0.63, Thailand 0.26

• Little Interaction between academia and industry• Lack of good career prospects for researchers

[Svasti, J. (2001)  Bioscience and Its Impact on Developing Countries: a Thai Perspective.  EMBO Reports. 2, 648-650] 

Need to Train More Scientists and Professional Researchers

• Strengthen local graduate programs in science: increase production and maintain quality e.g. RGJ Ph.D. programs

• Provide better career path for scientists and researchers• More interaction between academia and industry, 

including translating academic discoveries into products • Encourage more companies, including multi-nationals, to 

engage in R&D in Thailand• Make people understand that successful innovation 

requires good infrastructure  & capability in basic research

General Overall in Science fo Everyday Life

PISA tests 2009 show that the competency of 15 year-olds in Thailand ranks at about 45th from 57 countries participating

Programme for International Student Assessment (OECD)

New Educational Reform in Thailand: what should it aim at?

• Need to Increase Public Awareness of Science• Public need to have basic knowledge of science for daily life• Science helps to develop logical, coherent  and creative thinking 

• Need to Improve the Quality of Science Teaching at Schools• Training of current teachers to be competent in science subjects• Produce more teachers properly trained in science• Improve the esteem of the teaching profession

• Need to Improve Learning Process for Students• Place importance on student activities• Encourage thinking rather than just memorization• Make science enjoyable, so more students study science

Certainly Not Just Structural & Management Changes But Also

Science Society of Thailandunder Patronage of H.M. The King

• Informally started 1924; Officially registered on 27 January 1948• Currently has 4,500 members (3,200 Life Members, 300 Ordinary 

Members, 230 Corporate Members, 70 Students, 600 Young Scientists)

• Located at the Faculty Club, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn Univ• Founded Foundation for the Promotion of Science and Technology 

Under Patronage of HM The King• Co-founded Thai Academy of Science & Technology (AASA member) • Founded "The Promotion of Academic Olympiad and Development of 

Science Education Foundation under The Patronage of H.R.H Princess Galyani Vadhana Krom Luang Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra”

• 6 Academic Sections, 3 Regional Branches

Major Activitiesof the Science Society of Thailand

• Major Areas of Activities• Promoting Public Awareness of Science• Student and Teacher Activities• Promoting Research and Excellence

• Cooperation & support of Government and Private sector:• Public: Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, and agencies affiliated with these ministries

• Private: Siam Cement Group, Esso, Petroleum Company of Thailand

•  Volunteers from Universities and Schools•  Council of the Science Faculties of Thai Universities•  Inidividual  Teachers from Universities and Schools

Promoting Public Awareness of Science through initiating National Science Day

o 1982: Proclamation of King Mongkut (Rama IV) as the Father of Thai Science & August 18th as National Science Day.

o1968: Initiation of King Mongkut’s Science Park at Wagor in memory of the centennial of his prediction of Solar Eclipse

Promoting Public Awareness (2)

National Science Week Fair first organized during 18-24 August 1982, now organised by National Science Museum over a million visitors

oPresident, Science Society of Thailand is also ex-officio Board Member of National Science Museum

oRadio Program “Life and Science” Science Writers Section

oScience Magazine, popular bimonthly

Student ActivitiesNational Science Week (since 2527)• Six Regional Centers throughout Thailand•Student Project Competitions (Science Projects, Thailand Innovation Awards)

•Other Student Competitions (Creative Works in Science, Science Show, Problem Solving)

Young Scientist Clubs • 11 Subjects: e.g. chemistry, botany, astronomy

Science Camps• Rama IV Science Camp at Wagor• “Environment” & “Science Communication” Camps • Thai Science Camp

Teachers Training Courses [1998-2007]

• Collaboration: Basic Education Commission, Science Deans Council, Institute for Promotion of Science, with Science Society of Thailand as coordinator

• Training Courses: Upper Secondary School Teachers • Objectives: to provide scientific content, how to search 

for information and create new knowledge• Subject areas: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, 

Computer Science, Environment (later Earth Sciences)• Course Levels (Participants): Elementary (10,100), 

Intermediate (3,933), Advanced (694): more practical training at higher levels up to research at Advanced

• Testing: Pre-test av. score = 30%; Post-test av. score 60%; Grades: Pass/Good/Very Good; Overall pass = 90%

New 800 Million Baht Plan to Train 30,000 Teachers in Two Years, as Government Loan to improve Teacher Education