Science Education and the Science Society of Thailand Under Patronage of HM The King M.R. Jisnuson Svasti President, 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, Thailand

Importance of Science and Technology o Science and Technology are important for a country to compete with others o Research creates new products for the global market o Development of national infrastructure o Improving health and quality of life of the populatio n o Basic knowledge of science and understanding basic scientific principles is essential for every day life o Technology and novel products are part of daily life o Science teaches people to think analytically and creatively o Personal integrity is a basic principle in undertaking science

RankCountryNo. PapersRankCountryNo. Papers 1USA>300,00026Greece9,279 2Peoples R China *86,01727Finland9,078 3Germany79,97128Norway7,368 4Japan78,30629Mexico7,348 5England75,53130Singapore6,973 6France57,48331Czech Republic6,724 7Canada47,94332Portugal6,656 8Italy44,45733Ireland6,508 9Spain35,04834Iran6,239 10Australia30,78935New Zealand5,842 11South Korea28,89336Argentina5,552 12India28,86237South Africa5,471 13Netherlands25,85238Hungary5,170 14Russia24,24939Wales4,001 15Brazil19,20640Ukraine3,917 16Switzerland18,80141Chile3,333 17Taiwan18,54042Thailand3,236 18Sweden17,98143Egypt3,210 19Turkey15,93644Romania2,852 20Poland15,03545Slovakia2,399 21Belgium13,95646Slovenia2,187 22Israel11,59747Croatia1,962 23Scotland11,23548Malaysia1,879 24Denmark9,74049North Ireland1,866 25Austria9,48750Bulgaria1,713 * Peoples R. China includes Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR / Types : Article, Review, Letter Ruchareka Asavisanu World Publications Thailand is 42 nd in World, 7 th in Asia and 2 nd 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, ]

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 45 th from 57 countries participating Programme for International Student Assessmen t (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 Thailand under 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 Activities of 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 18 th as National Science Day. o 1968: 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 August 1982, now organised by National Science Museum over a million visitors o President, Science Society of Thailand is also ex- officio Board Member of National Science Museum o Radio Program “Life and Science” Science Writers Section o Science Magazine, popular bimonthly

Student Activities National 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 [ ] 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