Bangkok – A researcher from National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) has won “Falling Walls Lab Thailand 2019” competition hosted by Thailand and National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) and Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI).
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Mr. Georg Schmidt, German Ambassador to Thailand, presided over the competition “Falling Walls Lab Thailand 2019” in which young scientists and researchers display their innovative potential in sciences, social and business.
Among 22 researchers in the research competition, Dr. Udom Sae-ueng, the researcher from Biosensing Technology Research Unit, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, NATDA. , takes the top prize.
Udom brought up the idea of using virus for controlling plant pathogenic bacteria which is a cause of wilt disease and presented it under the research “Breaking the Wall of Bacteria Wilt Disease”. The researcher found that there is a virus which is a natural enemy of this kind of bacteria and plans to develop liquid substance from this virus to protect and restore the plant with natural balance.
“I did not expect to win the first prize, so I am very glad and excited”, Udom said. “This is the second time I attend the competition. I like that I can share ideas with other researchers. I am a representative of a research team and would like to take this opportunity for exchanging, expanding and connecting knowledge in order to improve the world’s and Thailand’s agriculture”, he added.
Another research study from NATDA’s researcher “Breaking the Wall of Multidrug – Resistant TB Diagnosis”, a technique for detecting the mutation of multi-resistant tuberculosis, conducted by Dr. Pak Khumwan, one of the finalists.
This research focuses on a technique for detecting drug-resistant T.B. from the beginning stage. It helps a doctor to diagnose and increases treatment efficiency.
Dr. Lili Eurwilaichitr, Vice President of NSTDA, revealed that this project was to break the scientific wall by building up collaboration and creating a network between Thai and foreign researchers in order to expand the body of knowledge. It also promoted scientific communication for the researchers, she said.
Dr. Georg Verweyen, Director of DAAD Information center Bangkok stated that Falling Walls Lab was a stage for young scientist and innovators to exchange innovative ideas leading to a better world. Verweyen also noted that Thailand had research capability as Thai and German universities had collaborated more than 200 research projects. Thus, Thailand is selected to be one of the regional research centers of the DAAD.
The winner receives a flight ticket, sponsored by Euraxess, to visit European research centers and attend Falling Walls Conference 2019 hosted every year by Falling Walls, Germany-based Foundation. The top 20 of distinguished innovative research studies from 80 countries will be presented at an international seminar at Berlin, Germany, on November 9th which is the 30th anniversary of the fall of Berlin Wall. (END)
