Kibo-ABC Member Countries' News: Thailand

Thai Youth Sharing Experiences on Kibo-ABC programs: SEKUW 2017 Special Session

BY: Science Communication Division, National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA)

(Bangkok, Thailand) Four students from past Kibo-ABC programs were invited to present their great experiences in a special session of the 3rd SPACE ENVIRONMENT AND KIBO UTILIZATION WORKSHOP (SEKUW), held on February 9, 2017 at Vayupak Center, Centra Hotel at the Government Complex Centre, Chaeng Watthana, Bangkok, Thailand. For details of SEKUW 2017 in Thailand, click the following link: http://www.nstda.or.th/jaxa-thailand/sekuw

This special session portrayed the fantastic relationship between Thailand and Japan, which recently celebrated their 130th anniversary of diplomatic relations earlier this year (2017). Asian Try Zero-G 2016 has been a huge success in Thailand with a great deal of media coverage by public newspapers and national television shows. All Kibo-ABC international collaboration programs have inspired Thai youth, and innovatively became the first step on the career path for young science researchers and engineers. Consequently, many Kibo-ABC participant students have won scholarships, and are studying in Japan or at other overseas universities to earn their MA or Ph.D.

NSTDA will continue its collaboration with JAXA for their space projects in order to foster the younger generation of space enthusiasts, and to make their dreams of space missions come true.

Special session details

After a decade of cooperation, JAXA and NSTDA agreed to organize a special session to present the invaluable experiences of Thai students on Kibo-ABC activities. Dr.Sawat Tantiphanwadi, the former senior advisor of NSTDA who initiated cooperation between JAXA and NSTDA, explained that, "On August 23rd and 24th of 2005, Astronaut Koichi Wakata (JAXA ISS program manager) participated in Thailand Science Week 2005 in Bangkok, and presented a report to Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. That was when cooperation between JAXA and NSTDA started."

Reference: Kibo-ABC program

Mr. Paritat Theanthong, project coordinator from the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) introduced four Thai students who experienced Kibo-ABC programs as follows:

1. Dr. Tanapat Deesuwan
Participant of the "Parabolic Flight Experiment" Batch #2 in 2007

Ph.D. in Physics, Imperial College, London
At present: Lecturer at the Learning Institute, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi

"It was a very wonderful experience for being selected as one of the participants in the Parabolic Flight Batch #2. I had learned a lot from working on the project, but the most important thing I learned, apart from the academic experience, was "there is nothing too hard to accomplish if one dares to dream and does one's best to achieve that goal." Thank you very much JAXA as well as NSTDA for giving me and my team that very prestigious opportunity."

2. Mr. Veerapol Sae-Wang
Participant of the "Parabolic Flight Experiment" Batch #6 in 2011

At present: Automotive engineer, Thai Oil Public Co., Ltd.

"It was an honor and pleasure to be a part of one of the biggest science experiments in my life. This is the reason why I began studying for a master's degree in automotive engineering (TAIST-Tokyo Tech scholarship) after graduating from Thai University. I would like to thank JAXA and NSTDA for the great opportunity to be one of the participants in the Parabolic Flight Project. We enjoyed many experiences in the microgravity experiment, and made many friends and relationships with the Japan side. So, I would like to say that the Parabolic Flight Project was a wonderful personal experience for me."

3. Mr. Tanapoom Jamphon
Participant of the "Space Seeds for Asian Future (SSAF) 2013"

SPSS President Award Winner, 30th ISTS, Kobe
At present: Science student, Panyarat High School

"Having a chance to attend SSAF and APRSAF 2013 was a very big opportunity and created a memorable experience for me. These programs allowed me to develop a lot of confidence and skills, and made me a better person. Finally, I would like to say a big thank you to NSTDA and JAXA, who always supported and gave me such a big opportunity, and helped me to get through many things during that time."

4. Mr. Worawut Janhom
Participant of the "Asian Try Zero-G" 2016

At Present: Mechanical Engineering Student, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi

"Asian Try Zero-G is a wonderful project because it made me feel closer to space. This project shows that anyone can conduct an experiment in space, so I would like to thank JAXA, GISTDA and NSTDA for providing such a great opportunity on the platform shared throughout the world."