Thailand (pronounced /ˈtaɪlænd/ TYE-land or /ˈtaɪlənd/[5]; Thai: ราชอาณาจักรไทย Ratcha Anachak Thai, IPA: (formerly Siam) is an independent country that lies in the heart of Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea and the southern extremity of Burma. Its maritime boundaries include Vietnam in the Gulf of Thailand to the southeast and Indonesia and India in the Andaman Sea to the southwest.
The country is a kingdom, a constitutional monarchy with King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the ninth king of the House of Chakri, who has reigned since 1946, making him the world's longest-serving current head of state and the longest-reigning monarch in Thai history.[6] The king is officially titled as the Head of State, the Head of the Armed Forces, an Upholder of the Buddhist religion, and the Defender of all Faiths.
The largest city in Thailand is Bangkok, the capital, which is also the country's center of political, commercial, industrial and cultural activities.
Thailand is the world's 50th largest country in terms of total area (slightly smaller than Yemen and slightly larger than Spain), with a surface area of approximately 513,000 km2 (198,000 sq mi), and the 21st most-populous country, with approximately 64 million people. About 75% of the population is ethnically Thai, 14% is of Chinese origin, and 3% is ethnically Malay;[7] the rest belong to minority groups including Mons, Khmers and various hill tribes. There are approximately 2.2 million legal and illegal migrants in Thailand.[8] Thailand has also attracted a number of expatriates from developed countries.[9] The country's official language is Thai. It is primarily Buddhist, which is practiced by around 95% of all Thais.
Thailand experienced rapid economic growth between 1985 and 1995 and is a newly industrialized country with tourism, due to well-known tourist destinations such as Pattaya, Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai, and exports contributing significantly to the economy.
The country is a kingdom, a constitutional monarchy with King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the ninth king of the House of Chakri, who has reigned since 1946, making him the world's longest-serving current head of state and the longest-reigning monarch in Thai history.[6] The king is officially titled as the Head of State, the Head of the Armed Forces, an Upholder of the Buddhist religion, and the Defender of all Faiths.
The largest city in Thailand is Bangkok, the capital, which is also the country's center of political, commercial, industrial and cultural activities.
Thailand is the world's 50th largest country in terms of total area (slightly smaller than Yemen and slightly larger than Spain), with a surface area of approximately 513,000 km2 (198,000 sq mi), and the 21st most-populous country, with approximately 64 million people. About 75% of the population is ethnically Thai, 14% is of Chinese origin, and 3% is ethnically Malay;[7] the rest belong to minority groups including Mons, Khmers and various hill tribes. There are approximately 2.2 million legal and illegal migrants in Thailand.[8] Thailand has also attracted a number of expatriates from developed countries.[9] The country's official language is Thai. It is primarily Buddhist, which is practiced by around 95% of all Thais.
Thailand experienced rapid economic growth between 1985 and 1995 and is a newly industrialized country with tourism, due to well-known tourist destinations such as Pattaya, Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai, and exports contributing significantly to the economy.
History of Thailand and People of Thailand
The region known as Thailand has been inhabited by humans since the Paleolithic period, about 10,000 years ago. Similar to other regions in Southeast Asia, it was heavily influenced by the culture and religions of India, starting with the kingdom of Funan around the 1st century CE.
After the fall of the Khmer Empire in the 13th century, various states thrived there, such as the various Tai, Mon, Khmer and Malay kingdoms, as seen through the numerous archaeological sites and artifacts that are scattered throughout the Siamese landscape. Prior to the 12th century however, the first Thai or Siamese state is traditionally considered to be the Buddhist kingdom of Sukhothai, which was founded in 1238.
After the fall of the Khmer Empire in the 13th century, various states thrived there, such as the various Tai, Mon, Khmer and Malay kingdoms, as seen through the numerous archaeological sites and artifacts that are scattered throughout the Siamese landscape. Prior to the 12th century however, the first Thai or Siamese state is traditionally considered to be the Buddhist kingdom of Sukhothai, which was founded in 1238.
Buddhist images at Wat Mahathat built during the Sukhothai period. Following the decline and fall of the Khmer empire in the 13th–14th century, the Buddhist Tai kingdoms of Sukhothai, Lanna and Lan Chang were on the ascension. However, a century later, the power of Sukhothai was overshadowed by the new kingdom of Ayutthaya, established in the mid-14th century in the lower Chao Phraya River or Menam area.
Ayutthaya's expansion centered along the Menam while in the northern valley the Lanna Kingdom and other small Tai city-states ruled the area. Thailand retained a tradition of trade with its neighbouring states, from China to India, Persia and Arab lands. Ayutthaya became one of the most vibrant trading centres in Asia. European traders arrived in the 16th century, beginning with the Portuguese, followed by the French, Dutch and English.
Ayutthaya's expansion centered along the Menam while in the northern valley the Lanna Kingdom and other small Tai city-states ruled the area. Thailand retained a tradition of trade with its neighbouring states, from China to India, Persia and Arab lands. Ayutthaya became one of the most vibrant trading centres in Asia. European traders arrived in the 16th century, beginning with the Portuguese, followed by the French, Dutch and English.
After the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767 to the Burmese, King Taksin the Great moved the capital of Thailand to Thonburi for approximately 15 years. The current Rattanakosin era of Thai history began in 1782, following the establishment of Bangkok as capital of the Chakri dynasty under King Rama I the Great. A quarter to a third of the population of some areas of Thailand were slaves.[15][16]
Despite European pressure, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian nation that has never been colonized. Two main reasons for this were that Thailand had a long succession of very able rulers in the 19th century and that it was able to exploit the rivalry and tension between French Indochina and the British Empire. As a result, the country remained a buffer state between parts of Southeast Asia that were colonized by the two powers, Great Britain and France.
Despite European pressure, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian nation that has never been colonized. Two main reasons for this were that Thailand had a long succession of very able rulers in the 19th century and that it was able to exploit the rivalry and tension between French Indochina and the British Empire. As a result, the country remained a buffer state between parts of Southeast Asia that were colonized by the two powers, Great Britain and France.
The ruins of Wat Chaiwatthanaram at Ayutthaya, the city was burned and sacked in 1767 by a Burmese army under the Alaungpaya Dynasty. Western influence nevertheless led to many reforms in the 19th century and major concessions, most notably being the loss of a large territory on the east side of the Mekong to the French and the step-by-step absorption by Britain of the Shan (Thai Yai) States (now in Burma)[citation needed] and the Malay Peninsula.
[edit] 20th century The losses initially included Penang and Tumasik (Singapore) and eventually culminated in the loss of four predominantly ethnic-Malay southern provinces, which later became Malaysia's four northern states, under the Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909.
In 1932, a bloodless revolution carried out by the Khana Ratsadon group of military and civilian officials resulted in a transition of power, when KingPrajadhipok was forced to grant the people of Siam their first constitution, thereby ending centuries of absolute monarchy.
During World War II, the Empire of Japan demanded the right to move troops across Thailand to the Malayan frontier. Japan invaded the country and engaged the Thai Army for six to eight hours before Plaek Pibulsonggram ordered an armistice. Shortly thereafter Japan was granted free passage, and on December 21, 1941, Thailand and Japan signed a military alliance with a secret protocol wherein Tokyo agreed to help Thailand regain territories lost to the British and French. Subsequently, Thailand undertook to 'assist' Japan in its war against the Allies, while at the same time maintaining an active anti-Japanese resistance movement known as the Seri Thai.
Grand Palace in Bangkok built in 1782, is the official residence of the King of Thailand. After the war, Thailand emerged as an ally of the United States. As with many of the developing nations during the Cold War, Thailand then went through decades of political instability characterised by coups d'état as one military regime replaced another, but eventually progressed towards a stable prosperity and democracy in the 1980s.
Science and technology in Thailand Eastern Water Resources Development and Management Public Company Limited, a water technology and wholesale supply company in Bangkok, Thailand 14" telescope Astronomical Seeing Test project National Astronomical Research Institute, Ministry of Science & Technology The National Science and Technology Development Agency is an agency of the government of Thailand which supports research in science and technology and their application in the Thai economy.
From the agency's website:
The National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) reflects the Thai government’s deep commitment to apply scientific and technological capabilities to promote and sustain the nation’s economic, social development and growth through the promotion of linkage and collaboration between the public and private sectors. Since its inception in 1991, NSTDA has grown into an active organization with a diverse program focusing on cutting-edge S&T research, design, development and engineering. NSTDA offers a full potential and opportunity for cooperative challenges and investment. Through such a convergence, the organization brings a layered, multi-faceted approach to the scholarly and most practical description of scientific and technological discoveries and advancement to serve national needs and maintain a sustained linkage with the international community.
L’Oreal (Thailand) with the support of the Thai National Commission for UNESCO announced the presentation of the “L’OREAL for Women in Science 2009” fellowship at Pullman Bangkok King Power Hotel. The fellowship awarded is presented annually to women working in doctoral and post-doctoral research who have already distinguished themselves in the life sciences.
Dr. Nitsara Karoonuthaisiri, Head of BIOTEC Microarray Laboratory is one of the recipients of the fellowship L’Oreal Thailand "For Women in Science 2009". Her research paper entitled “Applications of Microarray Technology in Research and Development in Thailand” attracted the interest of the L’Oreal Thailand judging.
Oréal Thailand fellowships are divided into two categories of ‘Life Science’ and ‘Material Science’. This year’s fellowships in the Life Science category were granted to Dr Nitsara Karoonuthaisiri from BIOTEC and Associate Professor Dr Artiwan Shotipruk from the Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University. In the Material Science category, fellowships were granted to Assistant Professor Dr Anongnat Somwangthanaroj from the Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, and Assistant Professor Dr Joongjai Panpranot from the Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University.
"L'Oreal was founded by a chemist, and more than half of our 3,000 researchers today are women. We feel a close bond with science and want to raise the profile of the women who are behind today's scientific advancements. We hope that the fellowship recipients will feel encouraged by the recognition their work has received, and that their stories will be an inspiration for other researchers," said Jean-Philippe Charrier, managing director of L'Oreal (Thailand).
“Microarray technology is still considered new to Thailand. Therefore, receiving this award will certainly help to promote the awareness to the importance and benefits that Microarray technology brings to the local research community. This will in turn help to increase the number of researchers in this field” said Dr. Kanyawim Kirtikara, Executive Director, BIOTEC.
From the agency's website:
The National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) reflects the Thai government’s deep commitment to apply scientific and technological capabilities to promote and sustain the nation’s economic, social development and growth through the promotion of linkage and collaboration between the public and private sectors. Since its inception in 1991, NSTDA has grown into an active organization with a diverse program focusing on cutting-edge S&T research, design, development and engineering. NSTDA offers a full potential and opportunity for cooperative challenges and investment. Through such a convergence, the organization brings a layered, multi-faceted approach to the scholarly and most practical description of scientific and technological discoveries and advancement to serve national needs and maintain a sustained linkage with the international community.
L’Oreal (Thailand) with the support of the Thai National Commission for UNESCO announced the presentation of the “L’OREAL for Women in Science 2009” fellowship at Pullman Bangkok King Power Hotel. The fellowship awarded is presented annually to women working in doctoral and post-doctoral research who have already distinguished themselves in the life sciences.
Dr. Nitsara Karoonuthaisiri, Head of BIOTEC Microarray Laboratory is one of the recipients of the fellowship L’Oreal Thailand "For Women in Science 2009". Her research paper entitled “Applications of Microarray Technology in Research and Development in Thailand” attracted the interest of the L’Oreal Thailand judging.
Oréal Thailand fellowships are divided into two categories of ‘Life Science’ and ‘Material Science’. This year’s fellowships in the Life Science category were granted to Dr Nitsara Karoonuthaisiri from BIOTEC and Associate Professor Dr Artiwan Shotipruk from the Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University. In the Material Science category, fellowships were granted to Assistant Professor Dr Anongnat Somwangthanaroj from the Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, and Assistant Professor Dr Joongjai Panpranot from the Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University.
"L'Oreal was founded by a chemist, and more than half of our 3,000 researchers today are women. We feel a close bond with science and want to raise the profile of the women who are behind today's scientific advancements. We hope that the fellowship recipients will feel encouraged by the recognition their work has received, and that their stories will be an inspiration for other researchers," said Jean-Philippe Charrier, managing director of L'Oreal (Thailand).
“Microarray technology is still considered new to Thailand. Therefore, receiving this award will certainly help to promote the awareness to the importance and benefits that Microarray technology brings to the local research community. This will in turn help to increase the number of researchers in this field” said Dr. Kanyawim Kirtikara, Executive Director, BIOTEC.
