The Power of Innovation Foundation, in collaboration with PTT Group and the Science Society of Thailand Under Patronage of His Majesty the King, hosted the Youth Greenovation Awards 2019 at the YGA Science Fair 2019, with the Royal Trophy of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, scholarships, and opportunities to participate in international competitions, and awards recognising community work.
The event, which took place 23-25 November 2019 at Chulalongkorn University’s Chalerm Rajakumari 60 Building, was chaired by Advisor to Minister of Education Mr. Warawit Kamphu Na Ayudhya.
Science is the cornerstone of creating "innovations, technologies, and new inventions." Though the demand is high for science students Thailand needs a lot of, the current situation does not fulfil this need, the Faculty of Science is not a popular choice among young students.
For Thailand to transition from a middle-income to a high-income country as intended under the Thailand 4.0 and the 20-year National Strategy, the country must emphasise technology and innovation, and science is key to accomplishing this. It is crucial that all sectors must join together in encouraging students to focus more on science in order to become modern scientists, researchers, inventors, and innovators, who know how to strike a balance between technological progress and environmental preservation.
The YGA Science Fair 2019 and the selection process of the Youth Greenovation Awards 2019 to win the royal trophy of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn were held by the Power of Innovation Foundation, together with the Science Society of Thailand Under Patronage of His Majesty the King; and PPT Group, including PTT PCL; PTT Exploration and Production PCL; PTT Global Chemical PCL; Thai Oil PCL; IRPC PCL, and; Global Power Synergy PCL. These organisations recognise the importance of creating new knowledge to drive forward society which requires "innovation", so that the country can meet the diverse needs of economic, social, and environmental sectors and move forward in a sustainable way. The target group of the project is students in middle school, high school, vocational school (vocational certificate, high vocational certificate, and technical certificate levels), and equivalent nationwide.
This year’s theme is "Greenovation for the Enhancement of Tomorrow’s Life Quality." Students are given the opportunity to express their creativity, nurture skills in inventing and conducting research, develop critical thinking skills, learn sustainability awareness and create a high quality of life for society of the future. These innovations, be they startups or social enterprises, can be further developed for use in the community and businesses or sold, which will help bring about Thailand’s sustainable growth.
Selected science projects will be submitted to the Youth Greenovation Awards 2019, aiming to foster an interest among young people in science, technology and innovation. It serves as a platform for developing inventions and adding to the pool of new knowledge to help deal with community issues under the concept of “Plant Innovation, Cultivate Innovator, Raise Green Awareness”.
The fair also featured over 200 presentations from government- and private-sector agencies such as the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), the National Science Museum (NSM), and the Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology (VISTEC). Highlights included exhibitions by PTT Group researchers and VISTEC, and project presentations from 45 teams including NSTDA- and NSM-awarded students.
Participants were given the chance to develop their skills and help successfully develop invention prototypes, helping inspire them to learn more, stimulate creativity and apply their work to the business world. Those who make it to the final round and have the right qualifications will be offered a place as students at the Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Science.
They also were invited to submit their project for be selected to compete in science projects or participate in international competitions such as I-SWEEEP, Intel ISEF, CWSF, The GENIUS Olympiad and MILSET Expo Science Asia. The most promising submissions receiving further development funding by PTT Group.