Thai Students Win Prizes At US' Top Science Research Contest

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Studies into snails and ant larvae win Thais prizes at US' top science research contest

Jintana Panyaarvudh

The Nation

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

From left: Jatuporn Chaweepak, Nattapong Chinnara, Nantakan Longlod, and Kitthanaet Thanaroungrochthawee at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

PITTSBURGH: -- Studies into the effect of Siamese snails on rubber plants and the nutritional quality of weaver ant larvae by Thai students in science research projects won Grand Awards last week in this year's Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), a major pre-college science research competition.

Both projects won second place in Animal Science categories, and the Thai researchers involved will receive US$1,500 (about Bt47,000) for each project.

The effect of Siamese snail mucus on natural rubber was studied by Nattapong Chinnara, Jatuporn Chaweepak and Nantakan Longlod from Surat Pittaya School in Surat Thani.

And the effect of food types on quantity and nutritional quality of weaver ant larvae was studied by Kitthanaet Thanaroungrochthawee of Kanthararom School in Si Sa Ket province.

Nattapong, who worked on the snail/rubber project, said: "I was so excited that we won the award because I saw a lot of other outstanding research by foreign students. So, it proved one thing: If we try our best, we will accomplish. And the award proved [our] success."

His colleague Jatuporn said he thought the reason their research won the award was because it was related to a local issue in their hometown - Surat Thani - and it showed uniqueness.

"We all are from rubber-farming families in Surat Thani. We tried to look into a problem they have and to solve it. Now, they know that snails are an enemy of the rubber farmers and they know how to cope with the problem," Nantakan said.

The study showed that Siamese snails consume fresh rubber latex at tapping sites and their mucus leads to faster coagulation of fresh latex, thus reducing the amount of latex that farmers can collect.

Nattapong said that their work could be developed or studied more in the future as the results also found that snails' mucus contains proteinase enzyme, which could digest an allergy protein in rubber.

"Instead of killing the snails, we suggested farmers to remove snails from plantations and distil their mucus so it can be developed for the rubber industry," Nattapong said.

Kitthanaet, the other winner, who studied weaver ant larvae, said he was glad and very excited.

"I could not hear anything after they announced my name," he said. He thought his research won the award because it was a new and creative idea.

"Several judges wondered how I could think about the topic because it was strange. They seemed amazed. They did not know about the ant larvae before. Moreover, the judges may think the project will benefit local people, communities and the environment as well," he explained. A student from Si Sa Ket, Kitthanaet said he chose the topic because weaver ant larvae are normally collected and commercialised as a popular delicacy, with an expensive price in northeastern Thailand.

"Ant larvae is my favourite dish and a popular food in the Northeast of Thailand. They consume it as an alternative food," Kitthanaet said.

His results found that the larvae have higher protein than fresh cow's milk. He suggested promotion of weaver ant farming, as his research proved that ants prefer to eat crickets. Although a mixture of rice, crickets and fish yields the highest quantity of larvae without a decrease in nutritional value, compared to other food types.

The exotic taste of weaver ant larvae could be commercially promoted as an international delicacy, he believed.

"I want local people to use my discovery to [help] produce more ant larvae to increase their income, and help them to solve poverty problems and promote the quality of their lives," he said.

Moreover, he found that the ant larvae contain amino and formic acid, which could produce alternative medicine and have a cosmetic use.

This year, nine Thai students presented their research on five projects to panels of esteemed judges, as well as the public, at a week-long fair held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the United States.

The ISEF competition attracted more than 1,600 of the world's most promising young scientists and innovators. They were selected from more than 550 qualifying science fairs held around the globe, which involved more than 65,000 participants.

Each of the nine students earned top honours at local and regional competitions before being selected as finalists at the US fair. The scholarships and awards in this competition are valued at more than US$4 million (Bt125.4 million).

The ISEF is funded jointly by Intel and the Intel Foundation. It has additional awards and support from dozens of other corporate, academic, governmental and science-focused organisations.

-- The Nation 2012-05-22

[sparebox9]

And Farang still say Thai students are stupid. . . . . .

I can't believe it . . . . I mean the Farang.

[jonclark]

And Farang still say Thai students are stupid. . . . . .

I can't believe it . . . . I mean the Farang.

No they say most (not all Thai students) are stupid.... as a result of the crappy education system they are put through which sucks the curiosity, inventiveness and thirst for knowledge out of them. And replaces it with sociopolitical gibberish and nonsense.

Glad to see you back sparebox2

[w11guy]

And Farang still say Thai students are stupid. . . . . .

I can't believe it . . . . I mean the Farang.

No they say most (not all Thai students) are stupid.... as a result of the crappy education system they are put through which sucks the curiosity, inventiveness and thirst for knowledge out of them. And replaces it with sociopolitical gibberish and nonsense.

Glad to see you back sparebox2

Do you actually know anything about the Thai education system?

[jonclark]

And Farang still say Thai students are stupid. . . . . .

I can't believe it . . . . I mean the Farang.

No they say most (not all Thai students) are stupid.... as a result of the crappy education system they are put through which sucks the curiosity, inventiveness and thirst for knowledge out of them. And replaces it with sociopolitical gibberish and nonsense.

Glad to see you back sparebox2

Do you actually know anything about the Thai education system?

Well I've worked in it for the last 8 years, as to whether i know anything about the Thai education system that is debatable, as there is remarkably little focus on education and learning so I'm clearly missing something!.

I can say however that my opinions are based on observation, experience and comparisons with the other education systems (UK / Swiss and French) where i worked in three comprehensive schools (UK) and two international schools in Switzerland and France for a total of 12 years.

And comparisons of the students (in broad terms) these four systems produce is very different. Thai students are not born with un-inquiring minds and low expectations they are taught to be that way.

[craigt3365]

Congrats to a great group of students. Fantastic.

[NCFC]

And Farang still say Thai students are stupid. . . . . .

I can't believe it . . . . I mean the Farang.

No they say most (not all Thai students) are stupid.... as a result of the crappy education system they are put through which sucks the curiosity, inventiveness and thirst for knowledge out of them. And replaces it with sociopolitical gibberish and nonsense.

Glad to see you back sparebox2

No... they actually say that not just all Thai students are stupid but all Thai people are, too.

So if this education system... "sucks the curiosity, inventiveness and thirst for knowledge out of them. And replaces it with sociopolitical gibberish and nonsense."... how do you explain these students winning prizes at a top US science research contest?

[jonclark]

And Farang still say Thai students are stupid. . . . . .

I can't believe it . . . . I mean the Farang.

No they say most (not all Thai students) are stupid.... as a result of the crappy education system they are put through which sucks the curiosity, inventiveness and thirst for knowledge out of them. And replaces it with sociopolitical gibberish and nonsense.

Glad to see you back sparebox2

No... they actually say that not just all Thai students are stupid but all Thai people are, too.

So if this education system... "sucks the curiosity, inventiveness and thirst for knowledge out of them. And replaces it with sociopolitical gibberish and nonsense."... how do you explain these students winning prizes at a top US science research contest?

Because I said most - not all. Clearly there are exceptions, but unfortunately they are exceptions as opposed to the rule.

[NCFC]

And Farang still say Thai students are stupid. . . . . .

I can't believe it . . . . I mean the Farang.

No they say most (not all Thai students) are stupid.... as a result of the crappy education system they are put through which sucks the curiosity, inventiveness and thirst for knowledge out of them. And replaces it with sociopolitical gibberish and nonsense.

Glad to see you back sparebox2

No... they actually say that not just all Thai students are stupid but all Thai people are, too.

So if this education system... "sucks the curiosity, inventiveness and thirst for knowledge out of them. And replaces it with sociopolitical gibberish and nonsense."... how do you explain these students winning prizes at a top US science research contest?

Because I said most - not all. Clearly there are exceptions, but unfortunately they are exceptions as opposed to the rule.

Yes you did say 'most' and I suggested to you that actually it's a lot more than most. If the Thai schools of your experience are failing why not head out to the Surat Pittaya and Kanthararom Schools to find out why these schools are producing internationally award winning students. Then TV might be carrying a more balance view of Thailand instead of the daily 'let's bash the country' posts.

[gand]

The 'Exception' that proves the rule?

[gand]

Kudos to the Thais that did well and to the USA for holding such an event and allowing farangs in it, doubtful Thailand would allow any farang to win any such event, much less compete in such an event.

[mca]

Kudos to the Thais that did well and to the USA for holding such an event and allowing farangs in it, doubtful Thailand would allow any farang to win any such event, much less compete in such an event.

Your first sentence makes no sense whatsoever mate.

[Amr]

Well sorry guys but...... if those up there are the winners of this event..... so who are those down below - the link - then ?

http://www.intel.com/about/corporateresponsibility/education/isef/winners.htm

[gand]

Under this category: "Animal Sciences - Presented by Intel"

http://www.societyforscience.org/document.doc?id=386

[Rama]

Studies have shown that good exceptional students are dependent on good exceptional teachers, not on an educational system. These students show that there are, albiet rare, exceptional teachers in the Thai educational system that know how to teach and inspire their students. Imagine what these students would be capable of if all there teachers were of the caliber of their science teachers.

[jonclark]

Kudos to the Thais that did well and to the USA for holding such an event and allowing farangs in it, doubtful Thailand would allow any farang to win any such event, much less compete in such an event.

Your first sentence makes no sense whatsoever mate.

I think he is alluding to the idea that Thai officials would want a Thai winner if such a competition were to be held in Thailand irrespective of the quality of the other (foreign) submissions. To quote Field Marshall Phibun (1934) "Thailand for the Thais"

[mca]

Ah so I assume he's under the impression that farang means foreigner. That clears it up. Cheers

Edited May 22, 2012 by mca

[SomTumTiger]

And Farang still say Thai students are stupid. . . . . .

I can't believe it . . . . I mean the Farang.

No they say most (not all Thai students) are stupid.... as a result of the crappy education system they are put through which sucks the curiosity, inventiveness and thirst for knowledge out of them. And replaces it with sociopolitical gibberish and nonsense.

Glad to see you back sparebox2

No... they actually say that not just all Thai students are stupid but all Thai people are, too.

So if this education system... "sucks the curiosity, inventiveness and thirst for knowledge out of them. And replaces it with sociopolitical gibberish and nonsense."... how do you explain these students winning prizes at a top US science research contest?

Because I said most - not all. Clearly there are exceptions, but unfortunately they are exceptions as opposed to the rule.

The "exceptions" are beating out the best in the world....ponder

[rkidlad]

The "exceptions" are beating out the best in the world....ponder

Well done to the students and all that - but I wouldn't get too carried away. There was a competition and some Thai students won. If some British students won, I wouldn't be shouting from the rooftops 'We're the best. We're the best!' They won (The British students) I didn't win anything.

Well done to anyone from any country for winning a competition. Don't use it as an excuse to vent hate or to spread nationalism.

[Thai at Heart]

The "exceptions" are beating out the best in the world....ponder

Well done to the students and all that - but I wouldn't get too carried away. There was a competition and some Thai students won. If some British students won, I wouldn't be shouting from the rooftops 'We're the best. We're the best!' They won (The British students) I didn't win anything.

Well done to anyone from any country for winning a competition. Don't use it as an excuse to vent hate or to spread nationalism.

Actually they came joint 3rd

Animal Sciences - Presented by Intel

Intel will present Best of Category Winners with a $5,000 award. Additionally, a $1,000 grant will be given to

their school and the Intel ISEF affiliated fair they represent.

Intel ISEF Best of Category Award of $5,000 for Top First Place Winner

AS045 Transcriptional Changes in Borrelia burgdorferi that Cross the Blood Brain Barrier

in Neurological Tick-Borne Lyme Disease

Lucy Michelle Hritzo, 16, Villa Joseph Marie High School, Holland, Pennsylvania

First Award of $3,000

AS012 Repelling Effect of Plant Extracts on Bees-A Study on Preventing Bees

from Pesticide Toxicity

YiHua Xu, 19, Bengbu No.3 High School, Bengbu, Anhui, China

AS045 Transcriptional Changes in Borrelia burgdorferi that Cross the Blood Brain Barrier

in Neurological Tick-Borne Lyme Disease

Lucy Michelle Hritzo, 16, Villa Joseph Marie High School, Holland, Pennsylvania

Second Award of $1,500

AS013 A Study of the Endogenous Activity Rhythms of the Marine Isopod Exosphaeroma

truncatitelson

Sasha Carmen Holloway, 15, Springfield Convent School, Cape Town, Western Cape,

South Africa

AS021 Identification of Ocellar Developmental Genes in Drosophila

Tyng-Shiuan Hsieh, 17, Taipei First Girls High School, Taipei City, Chinese Taipei

AS052 Effect of Food Types on Quantity and Nutritional Quality of Weaver Ant,

Oecophylla smaragdina, Larvae

Kitthanaet Thanaroungrochthawee, 18, Kanthararom School, Kanthararom District,

Sisaket, Thailand

AS311 Effects of Siamese Snail (Cryptozona siamensis) on Natural Rubber Coagulation

Jatuporn Chaweepak, 17, Suratpittaya School, Suratthani, Thailand

Nattapong Chinnara, 17, Suratpittaya School, Suratthani, Thailand

Nantakan Longlod, 17, Suratpittaya School, Suratthani, Thailand

In true modern day gobbledeegook, there is Best, First and Second.

[rkidlad]

The "exceptions" are beating out the best in the world....ponder

Well done to the students and all that - but I wouldn't get too carried away. There was a competition and some Thai students won. If some British students won, I wouldn't be shouting from the rooftops 'We're the best. We're the best!' They won (The British students) I didn't win anything.

Well done to anyone from any country for winning a competition. Don't use it as an excuse to vent hate or to spread nationalism.

Actually they came joint 3rd

Animal Sciences - Presented by Intel

Intel will present Best of Category Winners with a $5,000 award. Additionally, a $1,000 grant will be given to

their school and the Intel ISEF affiliated fair they represent.

Intel ISEF Best of Category Award of $5,000 for Top First Place Winner

AS045 Transcriptional Changes in Borrelia burgdorferi that Cross the Blood Brain Barrier

in Neurological Tick-Borne Lyme Disease

Lucy Michelle Hritzo, 16, Villa Joseph Marie High School, Holland, Pennsylvania

First Award of $3,000

AS012 Repelling Effect of Plant Extracts on Bees-A Study on Preventing Bees

from Pesticide Toxicity

YiHua Xu, 19, Bengbu No.3 High School, Bengbu, Anhui, China

AS045 Transcriptional Changes in Borrelia burgdorferi that Cross the Blood Brain Barrier

in Neurological Tick-Borne Lyme Disease

Lucy Michelle Hritzo, 16, Villa Joseph Marie High School, Holland, Pennsylvania

Second Award of $1,500

AS013 A Study of the Endogenous Activity Rhythms of the Marine Isopod Exosphaeroma

truncatitelson

Sasha Carmen Holloway, 15, Springfield Convent School, Cape Town, Western Cape,

South Africa

AS021 Identification of Ocellar Developmental Genes in Drosophila

Tyng-Shiuan Hsieh, 17, Taipei First Girls High School, Taipei City, Chinese Taipei

AS052 Effect of Food Types on Quantity and Nutritional Quality of Weaver Ant,

Oecophylla smaragdina, Larvae

Kitthanaet Thanaroungrochthawee, 18, Kanthararom School, Kanthararom District,

Sisaket, Thailand

AS311 Effects of Siamese Snail (Cryptozona siamensis) on Natural Rubber Coagulation

Jatuporn Chaweepak, 17, Suratpittaya School, Suratthani, Thailand

Nattapong Chinnara, 17, Suratpittaya School, Suratthani, Thailand

Nantakan Longlod, 17, Suratpittaya School, Suratthani, Thailand

In true modern day gobbledeegook, there is Best, First and Second.

But they won an award, right?

[Thai at Heart]

The "exceptions" are beating out the best in the world....ponder

Well done to the students and all that - but I wouldn't get too carried away. There was a competition and some Thai students won. If some British students won, I wouldn't be shouting from the rooftops 'We're the best. We're the best!' They won (The British students) I didn't win anything.

Well done to anyone from any country for winning a competition. Don't use it as an excuse to vent hate or to spread nationalism.

Actually they came joint 3rd

Animal Sciences - Presented by Intel

Intel will present Best of Category Winners with a $5,000 award. Additionally, a $1,000 grant will be given to

their school and the Intel ISEF affiliated fair they represent.

Intel ISEF Best of Category Award of $5,000 for Top First Place Winner

AS045 Transcriptional Changes in Borrelia burgdorferi that Cross the Blood Brain Barrier

in Neurological Tick-Borne Lyme Disease

Lucy Michelle Hritzo, 16, Villa Joseph Marie High School, Holland, Pennsylvania

First Award of $3,000

AS012 Repelling Effect of Plant Extracts on Bees-A Study on Preventing Bees

from Pesticide Toxicity

YiHua Xu, 19, Bengbu No.3 High School, Bengbu, Anhui, China

AS045 Transcriptional Changes in Borrelia burgdorferi that Cross the Blood Brain Barrier

in Neurological Tick-Borne Lyme Disease

Lucy Michelle Hritzo, 16, Villa Joseph Marie High School, Holland, Pennsylvania

Second Award of $1,500

AS013 A Study of the Endogenous Activity Rhythms of the Marine Isopod Exosphaeroma

truncatitelson

Sasha Carmen Holloway, 15, Springfield Convent School, Cape Town, Western Cape,

South Africa

AS021 Identification of Ocellar Developmental Genes in Drosophila

Tyng-Shiuan Hsieh, 17, Taipei First Girls High School, Taipei City, Chinese Taipei

AS052 Effect of Food Types on Quantity and Nutritional Quality of Weaver Ant,

Oecophylla smaragdina, Larvae

Kitthanaet Thanaroungrochthawee, 18, Kanthararom School, Kanthararom District,

Sisaket, Thailand

AS311 Effects of Siamese Snail (Cryptozona siamensis) on Natural Rubber Coagulation

Jatuporn Chaweepak, 17, Suratpittaya School, Suratthani, Thailand

Nattapong Chinnara, 17, Suratpittaya School, Suratthani, Thailand

Nantakan Longlod, 17, Suratpittaya School, Suratthani, Thailand

In true modern day gobbledeegook, there is Best, First and Second.

But they won an award, right?

Not denying that. I read the link, and well done to them. It was interesting to see the diversity of the entrants, and then realised, that it wasn't first, second, third as one would imagine.

[endure]

And Farang still say Thai students are stupid. . . . . .

I can't believe it . . . . I mean the Farang.

No they say most (not all Thai students) are stupid.... as a result of the crappy education system they are put through which sucks the curiosity, inventiveness and thirst for knowledge out of them. And replaces it with sociopolitical gibberish and nonsense.

Surely you mean that they're poorly educated? How do you know they're stupid without giving them a good education first?

[rkidlad]

And Farang still say Thai students are stupid. . . . . .

I can't believe it . . . . I mean the Farang.

And as usual, it's Thailand vs. the world. Only thing is - the rest of the world doesn't seem to know it's in a battle.

[Davedub]

I just want to say a heartfelt 'well done' to these researchers - really, this is something for the Thai people to be proud of.

/me claps

[culicine]

I'm a little confused - take a look at ALL of the winners - most, if not all, of this research must have been carried in advanced laboratories - possibly government or private Uni labs. Some of the chemical analyses needed is too advanced for school labs. All credit to the students, but it looks to me they were trained by university lecturers or other professionals in sophisticated laboratories, as most schools could not provide such equipment. Would be interested to know some of this background, rather than speculating. Good luck to them in their chosen careers.

[surangw]

the ones who's parents can pay the "fee" get some education, the ones that get degrees without paying for them are the intelligent ones.

[jonclark]

The "exceptions" are beating out the best in the world....ponder

They came third, so clearly the best in the world beat them ....ponder.

But lets not make this a 'my dicks bigger than yours' slanging match and congratulate the all students (Americans, Indians, Taiwanese,Chinese etc.) on a job well done I'm sure their schools and parents are all very proud of their hard work and effort. Lets hope all the students can inspire others.

[noitom]

Congratulations to this student team. In spite of the shortcomings of the Thai educational system, they've been able to excel in their field of interest.

[Jimjim]

Looks like these are them? Go to 45 seconds into the video to see the Thais

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T0K8wFXjT8&feature=youtube_gdata_player&wapkw=thailand