NRCT Participates in Science and Technology in Society forum 2023 as Key Member and Principal Sponsor, Leading Young Researchers to Join STS Young Leaders Program 2023
30 September 2023
Dr. Wiparat De-Ong, Executive Director of the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), led a delegation of selected Thai Young Leaders to participate in the Science and Technology in Society forum 2023 (STS forum 2023). The forum is being held from 30 September to 3 October 2023 in Kyoto, Japan, with the official opening ceremony scheduled for 1 October 2023.
On the first day of STS forum 2023, held on 30 September 2023, the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) participated in the “Forum for Unity, Science, and Empowerment (FUSE) by the Henry Luce Foundation,” organized by the American Associates of the STS forum (AA-STS) in collaboration with the Henry Luce Foundation. This inaugural event was established to advance the role of women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
During the session, Dr. Wiparat De-Ong, Executive Director of NRCT, shared Thailand’s approaches to promoting women’s participation in STEM. These include organizing initiatives that encourage women to enter STEM fields through scientific processes that foster an innovative mindset; strengthening the capacity of female education personnel, particularly in digital literacy skills; promoting female role models in STEM disciplines; and providing scholarships and research grants.
In Thailand, the proportion of female and male personnel in research and innovation is relatively balanced. Nevertheless, enhancing the international visibility of female researchers and increasing their recognition through prestigious international STEM awards remains a significant challenge for the country.
In addition, distinguished representatives of women in STEM at the senior, mid-career, and early-career levels shared their perspectives and experiences. These included Rita Colwell, representing senior women in STEM, from the University of Maryland, College Park and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA; Magdalena Skipper, representing mid-career women as Editor-in-Chief of Nature, United Kingdom; and Priscilla Kolibea Mante, representing the younger generation, from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana. They highlighted diverse challenges, including inequality in opportunities to voice opinions, and offered recommendations to further advance women’s roles in STEM. Key suggestions included increasing the nomination of women for prestigious awards, equipping women with multidisciplinary skill sets, and strengthening international networks among women scientists.
On the same day, participants also attended the 15th Regional Action on Climate Change (RACC15), which focused on regional-level actions to address the impacts of climate change. Discussions emphasized challenges to water security under multiple pressure factors, including governance and policy frameworks, engineering solutions, and measures to mitigate impacts on vulnerable populations and coastal communities.
The “Dialogue between Young Leaders and Nobel Laureates” session was also held, with young researchers supported by the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) participating in the dialogue, including:
1. Dr. Thittaporn Ganokratanaa, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi
2. Dr. Kattika Kaarj, Suranaree University of Technology
3. Dr. Nathachit Limjunyawong, Mahidol University
4. Dr. Adisak Seesanea, Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, Thammasat University
The STS forum 2023 will continue through 4 October 2023, bringing together more than 1,000 participants, including organizational leaders, researchers, and representatives from leading science, research, and innovation institutions from around the world.
