Thai Students Shine at Astronomy Olympiad

     Thai students came away with three gold and two silver medals at the first International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA), held in Chiang Mai between 2nd and 8th December.

     Representatives from 21 countries around the world joined the competition, held at the Lotus Pang Sung Kaew Hotel, in celebration of His Majesty the King's 80th birthday and HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana's 84th birthday. The Thai contingent was made up of five students and Suwan Suwannarat and Punnawitch Kongpitaksakul, Mathayom 4 students at Suan Kulab, picked up gold medals. Suwan also won the top scroll. The other gold medal was awarded to Chayanon Ruam-charoen from Piyamaharaj Wittayalai. Mathayom 5 student Theerasith Issaranont from Mahidol Wittayanusorn bagged one silver medal, with the other going to Mathayom 6 student Sirawis Surapreuk from Patumwan Demonstration School.

     Aree Sawasdi, president of the Thai Astronomical Society, said all five medals would be presented to His Majesty and the Royal Family. It was the King's initiative for Thailand to hold the first International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics. Next year, Indonesia will play host to the second annual event.


Hydro Power Plants along the Ping River
     Chiang Mai University will conduct research into the profitability of micro hydropower plants along the Ping River to find alternatives to alleviate the energy crisis, following the recent gasoline and energy problems.

     Asst. Prof. Dr. Thanaporn Supariyasilp, the deputy director of the Institute of Scientific and Technological Research, Chiang Mai University, said that micro hydropower plants could reduce the outlay of government funds used to import fossil fuel from abroad. In technical terms, this project will also be easy to organise in the short term. The plants would be used to produce electrical energy for use by locals and as a power resource for the nation. The aim of the initiative is to produce electrical currents of over 100 watts per plant, at 64 points along the Ping River in four provinces; Chiang Mai, Kampaeng Petch, Tak and Lamphun. When all 64 stations are operational, they will have the potential to produce up to 211 megawatts of electricity. The hydropower plants will support around 720,000 kilowatts per hour per year, generating a revenue of between 0.33 to 11.32 baht per kilowatt per hour.

     Currently, Thailand generates only 30 percent of its energy from hydropower resources. The country has to import large amounts of gasoline and fossil fuels from abroad to make up the 70 percent shortfall.


Yet another Proposed Cable Car
     Chiang Mai University, Naresuan University and Kasetsart University are collaborating on a research project to assess the environmental impact of the 1.2 billion baht project of the Chiang Mai-Mae Hong Son cable car. The cable car would use a wire rope system to transport the car from Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son. The cable car would have the capacity to transport up to 40-50 people at a time, as well as medical supplies, construction tools or other equipment in the case of emergencies such as earthquakes or forest rescue operations, said Asst. Prof. Det Wattanachaiyingcharern, the manager and the co-ordinator of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA).

     The cable car would cover a distance of 141 kilometres, from Mae Taeng District in Chiang Mai to Muang District in Mae Hong Son. It will take five months to study the environmental impact of the project, from October 2007 to February 2008. Phoom Sirachadaphong, the managing director of Pai Cable Transport Co. Ltd., who originally proposed the project, believes that the cable car would not damage the local environment (though independent researchers have warned that one rai of land will be cleared per cable car pole). He also confirmed that if the research is approved, the project will begin as soon as possible.

     Previously, three other cable car projects have been proposed in the northern region, including the Three Regions Cable Car (Thailand, Laos and Myanmar) in the Golden Triangle, Chiang Saen District in Chiang Rai, the Chiang Mai World Cable Car above the city’s Night Safari park and the Doi Luang Chiang Dao Cable Car. However, none of these were built due to a lack of comprehensive environmental studies, as well as protests from local people.

Reported by Thipwaree Ruangjaem

Tobacco Association Holds Environment Project
     In the past the use of chemicals in agriculture throughout Thailand caused little or no concern, but all that is steadily changing. It is well known now that our environment is affected by chemicals as well as the health of farmers and people who live close to farms. It is also of concern that some of the insects farmers are trying to repel have now developed immunity to many of the chemicals. The Thai Tobacco Growers, Curers and Dealers Association, Alliance 1 Services and Philip Morris (Thailand) LTD. therefore has organised a project to encourage awareness of the effects of chemicals when used in agriculture.

     The project was held at the tobacco fields in Baan Huay Nam Kao, Tambon Yang Kram, Doi Lor district, Chiang Mai in November this year. The organisers invited a lecturer from Chiang Mai University, Dr. Yaowaluck Chanbang of the Entomology Department, to talk about ecosystems with children whose parents are farmers living in the area, and their teachers.

     This project also encouraged children to be aware of the environment and the possibly hazardous consequences of using chemicals.

     There was a short demonstration about the correct usage of chemicals in agriculture to inform the children. The lecturer also led children into a nearby field and explained to the kids what insects can be beneficial to plants and what kinds are problematic. She said that some insects would actually destroy pests if farmers didn’t use chemicals to kill them.

      “Children will know all about the dangers of chemicals and they can act accordingly in their daily lives when working in agriculture. Also, they can inform their parents.” said Dr. Yaowaluck.

New Requirements for Retirement visas
     The Department of Immigration has issued new requirements for foreigners who would like to apply for a retirement visa and ATM cards. Applicants using visa application form TM 7 have to enclose their passport, a 4 x 6 cm photograph, 1,900 baht fee, proof of income (certificate of bank deposit and bank book savings account, or a fixed account for at least the last three months), and proof of an appropriate amount of money from abroad, such as a certificate of transfer from abroad or copy of a banking transfer order.

     In the case of having any dependents such as a husband, a wife, or children, a relationship certificate must be approved with a Thai translation certified by the embassy or consulate. Regulations for taking into consideration a foreign applicant’s extension for staying in Thailand require that the foreigner be more than 50 years old, and not forbidden to enter the kingdom. The foreigner must have financial proof of a deposited amount of no less than 800,000 baht, or a monthly income of no less than 65,000 baht, or an annual income of no less than 800,000 baht in total.
For more information please visit www.immigration.go.th.