ISP collaborated with scientist and groups of scientist in Thailand between year 1970 and 2007. ISP supported fellows and research groups in chemistry and physics at six different universities and one national authority in Thailand: Chiang Mai University, Chulalongkorn University, Khon Kaen University, Mahidol University, Prince of Songkla University, Srinakarinwirot University, and the Office of Atomic Energy for Peace (OAEP).
The support to these institutions was of various characters. In the 1980s the support was mainly for individual ISP fellowhips.
Cooperation in chemistry started in 1971. Between 1971 and 1997, fellowships were given to 32 students and scientist from various universities in Thailand for in total 392 months of research in Sweden.
Mahidol University was part of ISP’s regional cooperation, and mainly functioned as a host laboratory for students and scientists from the region, mainly Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, but also Pakistan. Mahidol University mostly received small amounts from ISP earmarked for the visiting students. Read the interview with Professor Vichai Reutrakul - the host professor at Mahidol University.
IPICS THA01 - X-ray crystallography (Computer
programming)
The research group at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, received ISP support (fellowships, travel and instruments) between 1970 and 1988. The X-ray crystallography group was first supported by ISP Physics (at that time called the Physics Seminar) during the 1960s, and by ISP Chemistry from 1970.
The group cooperated with Uppsala University.
IPICS THA02 - Biotechnology
The research group at Chiang Mai University, Thailand, 1983 and 1992.
A follow-up study from 2017 showed that the group leader had passed away, and the contacted staff members associated with the group were not able to provide any information about the support period.
Chemistry cooperation with Prince of Songkla University
- IPICS THA01/1 - Development of environmental analyses laboratory, Prince of Songkla University (supported 1984-1996)
- IPICS THA01/2 - Utilisation of local biomass for large-scale production of valuable biochemicals, Prince of Songkla University (supported 1990-?)
IPICS THA03/1 - Trace metals and trace organics in the outer Songkla Lake and in natural water
The research group at Prince of Songkla, Thailand, received ISP support between 1984 and 1995.
Background
The initial contact with ISP was taken in 1983 when Professor Proespichaya Kanatharana, Head of Department of Chemistry, applied for ISP fellowships for her staff members. The research project in focus at the time was water quality analysis of the Outer Songkla Lake. However, the group did not have any instrument for trace analysis at all. With the support from ISP, the group received some small instruments, which allowed them to start working in trace analysis. The results of this research work led to other research grants that could be used to buy larger equipment and to set up a cold room needed for the research.
Another prerequisite to carry out trace analysis research was human capacity building in the field of heavy metal determination. Three staff members at the department were therefore sent to Chalmers University of Technology and Lund University, both in Sweden, for research training with ISP funds. Two of them later became PhD students on a sandwich basis.
When the collaboration with ISP started, there was no PhD programme at the Chemistry Department. The big push for the start of the chemistry PhD programme came in the late 1980s, after the establishment of the Consortia of Postgraduate Education and Research Program in Chemistry, and the Royal Golden Jubilee PhD Program, which increased the funding and opportunities for PhD training at Thai universities.
Objectives
The group mainly focused on tracing metals and organics as well the studies of biosensor technology and various applications. The group had since 1985 mostly studied physical and chemical environmental parameters of the Outer Songkla Lake, but the analysis of some important potential pollutants, such as trace metals and trace organics, had to be left out due to lack of the necessary equipment. Through the continued support by ISP and Prince of Songkla University, the project acquired the necessary equipment, methodology, and trained staff to include most of the required techniques of analyses in this field.
In addition to the studies of the Outer Songkla Lake, the group also started environmental analyses of the natural water used locally. These studies were initiated by incidents in the area of Nakorn Sri Thammarat, where villagers developed arsenic poisoning symptoms.
During the time of the ISP support, the group was also involved in a project to develop biosensors as an alternative technique for environmental analysis and monitoring.
In 2008, the group merged with the Biophysics Research Unit at the Prince of Songkla University, and together became the Trace Analysis and Biosensor Research Center. The center focused on sample preparation and analysis techniques based on chromatography and biosensors that can be applied to industry, health care, food and environmental monitoring.
Achievements
During the period of ISP support, the group graduated 2 PhD students and 5 students on the MSc level. They had 10 publications in international journals, 5 in national journals and made 28 conference contributions.
More information
The group has utilised in total approx. SEK 1.7 million of ISP funding over the years of support. Other sources of funding have mainly come from national sources, namely Prince of Songkla University, the Consortia of Postgraduate Education and Research Program in Chemistry, NECTEC, and TRF. In addition, the group has received funding from the International Development Program, Australia and is collaborating with Thai industries.
A follow-up study from 2018 showed that the research group was still very active through the established Trace Analysis and Biosensor Research Center. At that time more than 10 PhD students were actively involved. The research center had collaboration with Linköping University and Lund University in Sweden, University of California in USA, and University of Novi Sad in Serbia, where PhD students and researchers went for training and visits. The Thai government, through the Royal Golden Jubilee Program, and through national Science Talent Development Project Scholarships, was the main supporting body of the students.
At the time for the follow-up study, the group had a Swedish Research Links-grant from the Swedish Research Council, which provided funds for travel exchange to and from Linköping University. In total, the center published approx. 8 papers per year in international journals.
The chemistry group has been matched several times with industry companies in need of technology development and improvement. For instance, they helped the Coca Cola Company to improve the technology of tracing chemical residues in their plastic bottles, reducing the time needed from 24 hours to only one hour. They also developed a new, more efficient technique for glue production for a local company. This technology is being used, and the glue is sold on the Thai market.
IPICS THA04 - Chemical and pharmacological investigation of biologically active natural products
The research group at Mahidol University, Thailand, received ISP support between 1973 and 1988.
The support consisted of fellowhips and, in late 1970, of purchase, in collaboration with IFS and Thai resources, of a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) system.