1324. Southeast Asia Liaison Office News: Thailand National Science and Technology Fair 2025

The Thailand National Science and Technology Fair 2025 (NST Fair 2025) is Thailand's largest annual science and technology exhibition. This year, it was held for nine days from August 9th to 17th at the Queen Sirikit International Convention Center in Bangkok. Approximately 200,000 visitors, primarily local elementary, junior high, and high school students, attended the expo.

JIRCAS's Southeast Asia Liaison Office has exhibited at the expo every year since 2007, except for two years when it was unable to participate due to COVID-19.

The Japan Booth (Japan Pavilion) was hosted by the Embassy of Japan in Thailand, and in addition to JIRCAS, the Cabinet Office, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), Kyoto University - Japan-ASEAN Science, Technology and Innovation Joint Research Platform (JASTIP), Tokyo University of Science, and Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology also exhibited.

JIRCAS exhibited the results of its international collaborative research on Khanom Jeen, a traditional Thai fermented rice noodle, and Khon Kaen 4, a recommended Thai sugarcane variety. To help visitors understand the research results, the exhibit used newly created double-page manga spreads and actual sugarcane and Khanom Jeen plants for explanations, which were well-received by visitors.

The opening ceremony was attended by Ms. Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation. At the awards ceremony, Mr. Supachai Pathumnakul, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, presented JIRCAS with a trophy in recognition of its contributions to science and technology education.

Contributor: KANAMORI Norihito, Southeast Asia Liaison Office