8-13 February 2023
Beijing, the People’s Republic of China
The Ministry of Education Science Research and Innovation (MHESI), Dr. Anek Laothamatas, has made an official visit to Beijing, PRC to strengthen the bilateral collaboration between the two countries in science, technology and innovation.
9-11 February 2023
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Dr. Saran Poshyachinda, Executive Director of NARIT was visited by Mr Hafez Murtza, CEO of Apadilangit. This meeting was the third one in a series of meetings that started in Da Nang, Vietnam, and continued at the Global Malaysia Astronomers Convention (GMAC) in Kuala Lumpur. Apadilangit is a astronomy and space education startup that is currently based in Malaysia.
Siem Reap, Cambodia - The Southeast Asia Astronomy Network (SEAAN) is holding its annual meeting on the theme of "Archaeoastronomy in the Modern Era" from February 1-3, 2023. The conference organised by the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (Public Organization) or NARIT in conjunction with Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), is held in the city of Siem Reap, Cambodia, bringing together leading researchers, academics, and industry experts from Southeast Asia and beyond to discuss the latest developments in the field and in other areas of astronomy and astrophysics as well.
It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that NARIT says farewell to our much respected and beloved colleague, Prof. Thomas Marsh.
A researcher from the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) discovered the third moon orbiting the asteroid 130 Elektra within the asteroid belt. This marks the first time ever that a third moon was discovered to be orbiting around an asteroid, making 130 Elektra the first quadruple asteroid system ever known.
On November 24, 2021, Prof. Dr. Anek Laothamatas - Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation welcomed H.E. Mr. Han Zhiqiang – Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Thailand, who assumed his post earlier in September 2021, for a courtesy visit at MHESI. The two parties stressed the significance of bilateral ties on Science, Technology and Innovation in different aspects and missions.
National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) (Public Organization), Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), Thailand, jointly hosted a ceremony to sign on a document for Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Universiti Malaya in Malaysia via online on 29 June 2021. This MoU has been issued to initiate an official close cooperative relationship with a view to the further scientific and technological development of both organizations in the field of radio astronomy and geodesy, and any other fields of activity that may be of mutual interest, in particular as countries in South-East Asia. In the ceremony, Dr. Saran Poshyachinda, the executive director of NARIT, and Professor Dr. Noorsaadah Abd Rahman, the deputy vice chancellor of Universiti Malaya, on behalf at each organization signed on the MoU document finally. While witnesses from both sides were represented by Associate Professor Dr. Boonrucksar Soonthornthum – a former Executive Director of NARIT and then now serves as an Advisor at NARIT, Professor Dr. Ismail Yusoff - the Dean of the Faculty of Science of University Malaya, Dr. Phrudth Jaroenjittichai - Acting Director of Operations and Engineering for Radio Observatories, Associate Professor Dr. Zamri Zainal Abidin - the head of the Radio Cosmology Laboratory, and Dr. Juan Carlos Algaba Marcos and Dr. Koichiro Sugiyama - joint-coordinators of this activity, with other organizing committee members and approximately 30 participants in total.
27 March 2021
On March 27th, 2021, NARIT hosted the annual “NARIT AstroFest 2021” at Princess Sirindhorn AstroPark in Chiang Mai. Together with the National Science Museum (NSM), the new exhibition zones “Astronomy Insight” and “Northern Science Square” were launched at the event, along with featured activities including “Enjoy Science Careers” and public stargazing later at night.
19 March 2021
For the very first time on March 19th, 2021, a soccer friendly match kicked off between Team US Consulate General Chiang Mai and Team NARIT to mark the milestone on enhanced collaborations between the two parties. Consul General Sean K. O’Neill and NARIT Executive Director Saran Poshyachinda presided over the match, among vibrant players and fans of both teams.
15 February 2021
H.E. Emilio de Miguel Calabia – Ambassador of Spain to Thailand called on H.E Prof. Dr. Anek Laothamatas, Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation of Thailand on 15 February 2021. Among Team Thailand was Dr. Saran Poshyachinda – NARIT Executive Director to discuss NARIT’s Radio Astronomical Network and Geodesy for Development: RANGD, which includes the current construction of 40-metre Thai National Radio Telescope: TNRT in Chiang Mai and 13-metre VLBI Geodetic Observing System, VGOS. NARIT implements the abovementioned projects under the multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary frameworks with Spanish counterparts namely Yebes Observatory, Instituto Geográfico Nacional (IGN). NARIT signed a 6-year MoU with IGN in March 2017. NARIT is also a part of the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTA) since 2015, located in La Palma, Spain.
1 February 2021
Chargé d'affaires of the People’s Republic of China Embassy in Thailand, Mr. Yang Xin paid a courtesy call on H.E Prof. Dr. Anek Laothamatas, Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation of Thailand on 1 February 2021. The Minister was accompanied by Dr. Saran Poshyachinda – NARIT Executive Director, who updated the parties on the ongoing establishment of Asian Treaty Organization for Astronomy(ATOA). NARIT also works on space technology including bilateral satellite development project with the Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics (CIOMP) Chinese Academy of Sciences, Thai Consortium for Atmospheric Research with Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences to enhance atmospheric research in Southeast Asia. NARIT maintains and fosters collaborations with numerous Chinese counterparts over the past decade.