Thai students win medals at International Chemistry Olympiad in UAE
The 2025 Olympiad, organised by the UAE's Ministry of Education, ran from July 5 to 14 in Dubai.
Approximately 1,000 participants from 90 countries worldwide joined to tackle challenges and explore innovation. The four medal-winning Thai students were in their senior year of high school.
The gold medallist was Rawisara 'Prim' Chokdeepanich from Kamnoetvidya Science Academy (KVIS), and the two silver medallists were Peerakorn 'Namo' Trichakkajorn from KVIS and Pun Saejang from Mahidol Wittayanusorn School. The bronze medallist was Daran 'George' Maenkoson from Sansem Wittayalai School.
The contestants competed individually by using a screen on their desk showing the questions for both theoretical and practical examinations, and they were ranked according to the points they obtained from both exams, according to the IChO website.
The Thai students will return to the kingdom on Monday at Suvarnabhumi Airport, with a congratulatory ceremony scheduled for 8.30pm at the second floor's arrival gate 1.
This Wednesday, another Thai team of five students will travel to Paris, France to compete in the 55th International Physics Olympiad, an event that concludes on July 25.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Bangkok Post
14 hours ago
- Bangkok Post
DBS Denla British School Celebrates Landmark Achievements Across Academic Year 2024/2025
DBS Denla British School is proud to celebrate an extraordinary year of academic, co-curricular, and community successes throughout the 2024/2025 academic year. The school continues to build its reputation as a leader in holistic, globally inspired education, achieving milestones that reflect its commitment to excellence, innovation, and care. Among the highlights, DBS was named Parents' Choice Best Kindergarten at theAsianparent Awards 2024, with over 20,000 votes from Thai mothers and families. The award recognises DBS's outstanding early years provision, where an enriched British curriculum is seamlessly combined with Thai values to create a truly nurturing and inspiring environment. In international competitions, DBS students demonstrated exceptional skill and teamwork. At the prestigious World Scholar's Cup 2024 Tournament of Champions at Yale University, DBS scholars achieved record-breaking results, with one team ranked #1 in Thailand, #2 in Southeast Asia, and #8 globally out of more than 300 teams. Lene, a Year 10 student, achieved 7th place overall among more than 1,000 participants. Altogether, the team brought home 2 trophies, 32 gold medals, and 25 silver medals — the highest medal tally in DBS history. Further demonstrating excellence in STEM education, DBS robotics teams excelled at the VEX IQ Robotics National Championship 2025, where the Middle School team Blockade Brigade (55580B) won both the Teamwork Champion Award and the Excellence Award for an impressive fifth consecutive year. Elementary School teams Xero (55580E) and Banana Bot (55580F) also collected top awards, showcasing outstanding innovation and problem-solving skills. Building on this success, two DBS robotics teams represented Thailand at the VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas, Texas, competing among 839 teams from 55 countries. Blockade Brigade placed 23rd in the Opportunity Division, while Xero made a dramatic comeback from 54th to 26th in the Math Division. Their sportsmanship and dedication demonstrated the resilience and excellence that define DBS students. In a further testament to its outstanding educators, DBS's Polly Neville, Head of Section for Years 5 and 6, was named Best in Class - Regional Winner for Southeast Asia & Pacific at the Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards 2025, organised by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Polly's nomination was inspired by her 'Friday Friends Club,' where she supports children in developing empathy, emotional resilience, and communication skills. Meanwhile, at the World Scholar's Cup Regional Round 2025, DBS teams won 12 trophies, 123 gold medals, and 43 silver medals. Timmy was awarded 1st Place Overall Scholar and received the prestigious Jac Khor Award, while Lene achieved 3rd Place Overall Scholar — underscoring the consistently high performance of DBS students. DBS was also honoured with the Best School Award at the World Science Championship 2024, celebrating its commitment to excellence in scientific education. Mrs Samantha Cronin, Head of Science, was named Best Teacher – International Level, recognising her visionary leadership and dedication to inspiring young scientists. The graduating Class of 2025 also celebrated an exceptional year of university success, earning a total of 171 offers from world-class institutions. These include 24 offers from the UK, 20 from top Thai universities, 13 from prestigious Russell Group institutions, and generous international scholarships — including a 50% award from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and full scholarships from Beijing Institute of Technology and Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. In total, DBS graduates were awarded scholarships worth USD 7.91 million across the United States and Switzerland. In addition to these academic accolades, DBS was recently shortlisted for School Trip of the Year in the Independent Schools of the Year 2025 awards, a recognition that highlights the school's dedication to enriching student learning beyond the classroom. Through thoughtfully designed educational trips, DBS empowers students to explore the world with curiosity, empathy, and cultural awareness — creating memories and experiences that shape them into global citizens of tomorrow. The finalists will be announced in September. Mr Jonny Liddell, Headmaster of DBS Dental British School, commented: 'These remarkable results show what is possible when a school community works together with care, high expectations, and a shared belief in the potential of every child. At DBS, we are proud to create an environment where students can truly flourish — not only academically, but socially, emotionally, and personally. My sincere congratulations to all of our students, staff, and families for making 2024/2025 a year to remember.'
Bangkok Post
2 days ago
- Bangkok Post
20 Years of Starfish Education – Moving Forward into the Future
Starfish Education commemorates its 20th anniversary of advancing Thai education through the event '20 Years of Starfish Education,' held on July 15, 2025 at Starfish Hub, Bangkok, and on July 17, 2025 at Starfish School, Mae Taeng District, Chiang Mai. From Humble Beginnings to National and Global Impact 2005: Founded as the Starfish Country Home School Foundation by Dr. Richard P. Haugland to provide opportunities for underprivileged children. 2006: Opened Starfish Country Home School in Mae Taeng, Chiang Mai, along with a Starfish Children's Home projects in Chiang Mai. 2007: Developed the 3R Innovation (Reading, Writing, Arithmetic) by Dr. Richard P. Haugland. 2010: The first cohort of Grade 6 students graduated—Opening of a Children's Home Project in Chiang Rai. 2011: Launched the Starfish Day Care Center in Bangkok. 2012: Launched the LifePrep Foundation, a registered non-profit organisation in Samut Sakhon, established to promote educational opportunities. 2013: Launched the Chiang Mai Starfish Learning Center. 2015: The 10th anniversary of the founding of the Starfish Country Home School Foundation marks a decade of unwavering commitment to advancing education for every child. 2016: A Vision Takes Root: Dr. Richard P. Haugland and Dr. Prae Seributra joined forces to shape Starfish Education. That same year, Dr. Prae became President, ushering in a new era of innovation, equity, and impact. 2017–2018: Launched Starfish Maker (STEAM Makerspace) and Starfish Labz, an online learning platform for teachers and students. 2019: Launched Starfish Class, a competency assessment tool that reflects students' potential in real-world contexts. 2022: Expanded Makerspace to over 100 schools nationwide. 2023: Organised FutureEd Fest, an education innovation festival for transformation. 2024: Starfish School was selected as one of the top three schools in the world for the World's Best School Prizes 2024 – Innovation. 2025: Partnered with the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) in the Future Youth Thailand project to develop future skills for Thai youth. Celebrating Two Decades of Impact: Starfish Education Marks Its 20th Anniversary For the past two decades, Starfish Education has remained steadfast in its belief that 'every child has potential—if we create the right environment for them to thrive.' What began with the story of a starfish and the inspiration of founder Dr. Richard Paul 'Dick' Haugland has grown into an organisation dedicated to pioneering innovations for teachers and students —delivering tangible impact at both local and national levels. The 20th anniversary of Starfish Education is not only a moment of reflection on past achievements but also a tribute to the vision, dedication, and inspiration of the many individuals who have contributed to the organisation's journey. These efforts have helped shape educational policy and practices across Thailand and mark the organisation's first steps onto the global stage. A Journey of Change: Reflections from Visionary Leaders The celebration will feature keynote reflections from two key figures who have played vital roles in Starfish Education's story: Mr. Francesco Caruso, Principal of Firetree Group and Dr. Nanthaporn Prae Seributra, President of Starfish Education Foundation and CEO Starfish Education. Together, they shared the stories behind the organisation's first steps and the inspiration that fuelled a 20-year journey of transforming the lives of students, educators, and schools across the country. Their reflections will highlight the challenges, the belief in possibility, and the power of networks in driving meaningful and lasting change in education. Lessons for the Future 'This milestone offers us a unique opportunity to celebrate 20 years of Starfish Education—an organisation that has continuously strived to bring about sustainable and meaningful transformation in Thai education. Starfish has proven that true change doesn't always begin with grand gestures; it often starts with small, committed actions. And when carried out consistently and wholeheartedly, these actions can create an extraordinary ripple effect across society.' The event will also include insights from key partners in government and the social sector—individuals and organisations who have collaborated with Starfish in shaping policies, pioneering educational innovations, and co-creating a more inclusive and dynamic learning ecosystem. A Gathering of Over 150 Changemakers The event brings together more than 150 participants, including government officials, social innovators, educators, alumni, students, and parents from over 50 partner networks nationwide. Each attendee represents a valued companion on this two-decade journey of advancing equitable and sustainable education in Thailand. 'The past 20 years mark only the beginning.
Bangkok Post
3 days ago
- Bangkok Post
SCBX to put Thai research on global stage
SCBX Group says it is firmly committed to advancing Thai research on to the world stage by continuing to publish "A-Star" (A*) research at top-tier conferences as ranked by the Computing Research and Education Association of Australasia (CORE). This goal is a key mechanism for boosting Thai researchers' capabilities and broadening their international influence. A-Star research refers to international conferences ranked by CORE, which classifies conferences within four tiers -- A*, A, B and C. Recently, the Typhoon research team of SCB 10X, the disruptive technology investment arm within SCBX Group, achieved a major milestone with the acceptance of five co-authored artificial-intelligence papers by the Association for Computational Linguistics (ACL) 2025, one of the world's most prestigious conferences in natural-language processing and computational linguistics. The success stems from collaboration with four leading institutions: VISTEC, Stanford University, the University of Cambridge, and the SEACrowd research community. It comprises three papers in the main conference, one in the findings, and one in the conference's Large Language Model (LLM) Security Workshop. Kaweewut Temphuwapat, chief executive of SCB 10X, said the company was "deeply honoured" that all five of Typhoon's co-authored papers were accepted by ACL 2025, with a rigorous peer-review process and high international recognition. The three papers in the category of main conference are "Skill Aggregation: Reference-free LLM-Dependent Aggregation" (authored in collaboration with the University of Cambridge and Stanford University), "Mind the Gap! Static and Interactive Evaluations of Large Audio Models" (in collaboration with Stanford University), and "Crowdsource, Crawl, or Generate? Creating SEA-VL, a Multicultural Vision-Language Dataset for Southeast Asia" (in collaboration with SEACrowd). The paper in the findings category is "Towards Better Understanding of Program-of-Thought Reasoning in Cross-Lingual and Multilingual Environments" (in collaboration with VISTEC). The paper in the LLM Security Workshop category is "Shortcut Learning in Safety: The Impact of Keyword Bias in Safeguards" (in collaboration with VISTEC). Mr Kaweewut said that SCB 10X is one of Thailand's leading organisations pursuing A*-quality research, with 11 AI papers accepted and published at top-tier international conferences such as ACL, the Empirical Methods in Natural Language Processing Conference, the International Conference on Learning Representations, and Interspeech. Research insights from these papers were the foundation for SCB 10X's Typhoon T1, Typhoon2 R1, and Typhoon2 Audio AI models. "In addition, SCB 10X has published several technical reports on the approaches behind our models on enabling researchers worldwide to access and build upon this knowledge freely." Although each paper has a specific focus, they all share a common goal: developing AI that is context-aware, inclusive and pragmatic, Mr Kaweewut said. "We thank our collaborators, co-authors, and reviewers for making this possible," he added. Although Thailand does not yet have an official national ranking for A* conference participation, signs of growth are emerging, with organisations such as SCBX Group, VISTEC, and Chulalongkorn University actively laying the groundwork for Thai researchers to gain global visibility and enhance the nation's reputation through world-class research.
