Galaxy Forum, Galaxy, Galaxy Education, 21st Century Education, Astronomy

1. Roles of NARIT in Developing Galaxy Science/
Astronomy in Thailand and ASEAN
Boonrucksar 9 March 2013
Soonthornthum Science Center
Director, NARIT, Singapore
Thailand
www.narit.or.th

2. 21st Century Education:
Understanding Our Place
in the Universe
Galaxy Science Forum:
Advancing 21st Century
Education worldwide to provide
greater global awareness,
capabilities and action in Galaxy

3. presentation:
1.Astronomy Education in
Thailand
2.The Establishment of
NARIT
3.Network and
Collaboration
4.Roles of NARIT in
Driving Astronomy

4. stronomy Education in Thailan
School Level (approximately
10,000 high schools from
30,000 schools all over
Thailand): “National Curriculum
in Earth, Astronomy and Space
Science”
University Level

5. Mission of NARIT
1. Carry out research and
development on astronomy and
astrophysics
2. Establish a network and co-
operation with organizations and
research institutes, both domestic
and international
3. Support and co-ordinate
astronomical collaboration

6. The New Infrastructure of the
21st Century in Southeast Asia:
The Thai National Observatory
(TNO)
- Flagship Project of Thai Astronomy Under the
Royal Comment of HRH Princess Maha Chakri
Sirindhorn
- Located at Doi Inthanon National Park, Chiang
Mai, Thailand at 2,457-meter above the sea level,
Latitude 18º 34’ 21’’ N และ 98º29’ 07’’E 6

7. Inauguration of the TNO
on 22nd January 2013
7

8. The 2.4-meter Class
Thai National
Telescope (TNT)
Specification
- 2.4 m f/10
F=24000 mm
- 2 Nasmyth
Foci
- Pointing
Accuracy 3
arcsec
- Tracking
Accuracy 0.5
arcsec8

9. Information Service and Training Center
Inthanon Mountain in Chiang
Mai, Thailand (1200 above the sea
level)
Office and
Accommodation
for Astronomers

10. Thai 2.4m Instrumentation
Format Brand Model Pixel RON FOV Filters Delivery Status
Johnson +
2k x 2k Apogee Alta U42 13.5 μm 7e- 3.6' x 3.6' Installed Temporary
Stromgren
Imagers
3k x 3k Apogee Alta U9000 12 μm 12e- 4.8' x 4.8' Red Oct-12 2ms TDI
UBVRI,Hα, Red
4k x 4k ARC E2V232-84 15 μm 4e- 8' x 8' Jan-13 Facility
C, Clear
Broad +
1k x 1k ULTRASPEC EMCCD 13 μm 0e- 7.7' x 7.7' Jan-13 Visitor
Narrow
Type Manuf. Long Slit R CCD Spectral Range Delivery Status
Fiber Meaburn Yes 3,000 (Vmag ~ 12) 390-800 nm Available ??
Spectro
Fiber Shelyak No 10,000 QSI632, 2184x1472 430-710 nm Nov-12 Temporary
Fiber NIAOT No 18,000 Andor 2048x512 380-900 nm Dec-13 Facility
Status: October 8, 2012

11. 5 Key Sciences of NARIT
Optical Astronomy
Radio Astronomy
Solar Physics and
High Energy Astrophysics
Space Weather
and Cosmology
Astronomical
Instrumentation

12. East Asian 2m optical-infrared telescope network
OAO(Japan)
2.2 m Xinglong (China)
2.4m 1.9m
BAO(Korea)
GMG (China)
1.8m
2.0m
8.2m
2.4m NARIT(Thailand)
Lulin (Taiwan) Subaru

13. CCD-Images from 2.4 m-TNT
Jupiter Image

14. CCD-Images from 2.4 m-TNT
Saturn Image Mars Image

15. CCD-Images from 2.4 m-TNT
Dual Lobe Planetary
Ghost of Jupiter in Hydra
Nebula in Gemini
NGC 3242
NGC 2371

16. CCD-Images from 2.4 m-TNT
Eskimo Nebula (NGC 2392) in Gemini

17. CCD-Images from 2.4 m-TNT
M 95 in Leo M 96 in Leo

18. CCD-Images from 2.4 m-TNT
M1 Crab Nebula M13 Globular Cluster
In Taurus in Hercules

19. CCD-Images from 2.4 m-TNT
Comet ISON ->
Comet ISON Minor Planet
2012 DA14

20. Astro Park
Astro Park is located in down town Chiang
Mai (20 acres area) and the whole project will

21. Astro Park
Astro Park consists of Main Office,
International Office, Auditorium, Laboratory,

22. Public Provincial
Observatories
Provincial observatory Proje
The project was approved in the cabinet
meeting on March 2009. Six observatories

23. Main facilities for each public
provincial observatory include: An up-to-
standard observatory equipped with a 0.6-
metre reflecting telescope, a CCD camera, a
spectrometer, an office building and
standard training accessories.

24. Human Resource
Development in Astronomy
Ministry of Science and Technology
provides scholarships according to the
human resource development plan of
NARIT. The number of scholarships are
as follows:
- 2007 B.Sc-M.Sc-Ph.D 1
M.Sc-Ph.D or Ph.D 3
- 2008 B.Sc-M.Sc-Ph.D 2
M.Sc-Ph.D or Ph.D 2

25. Human Resource
Development in Astronomy
From 2010, the Institute for Promotion in
Teaching Science and Technology , Ministry of
Education also provides scholarships to
high school students who are the
national representatives on the
“International Olympiad on Astronomy
and Astrophysics (IOAA)” competition as
follows:
- 2010-2012 B.Sc-M.Sc-Ph.D 8
Some foreign astronomy institutes
eg: Korean Astronomy and Space Science

26. Network and
Collaboration IAU
- Becoming membership of the
International Astronomical Union,
(August 2006)
- Initiation of International Collaborations
-Initiation of Thai National Astronomy
Network (TNAM)
- Initiation of South-East Asian
Astronomical Network (SEAAN)

27. Thailand became National Member of the
IAU
during the 26th General Assembly
of the IAU in Prague, August 2006
Official Speech delivered by
Dr. Suchinda Chotipanich
the Permanent Secretary of
Ministry of Science and Technology Thailand
(left picture)

28. International Collaborations and
Networks

29. Korea-T M
hai OU Signing,
F ebruary,2008

30. TNAM Meeting in 2012

31. Southeast Asia Astronomy Network,
SEAAN, M eeting

32. T 1st Southeast Asia Young
he
Astronomers Collaboration, SEAYAC,
M eeting 5-7 November 2012,
Palawan, Philippines

33. MOU Signing NARIT and UP B
L
NARIT has signed an MOU with the
University of Philippines, Los Banos
(UPLB) on 20 September 2012. In 2013,
UPLB will send 4 students for training
in astronomical instrumentation at
NARIT.

34. Visit Myanmar 16-20 December
2012

35. Visit Myanmar 16-20 December
2012

36. Visit Myanmar 16-20 December
2012

37. Roles of NARIT in
Supporting Astronomy
Education
1.Supporting Higher
Education
2.Teacher Training in
Astronomy in 3 levels
11-01-2010 37

38. MOU signing between NARIT and 8
Cooperative Universitiesan
NARIT makes
MOU signing
with 8 major
universities in
Thailand
-Curriculum
development
-Supporting
astronomical 38

39. Official MOU Signing
between NARIT and IPST
on 26 December 2012
39

40. Nation-wide Teacher Training
Workshop

41. Project on “Teacher Training
Workshop in Astronomy”
Results from the MOU,
NARIT and IPST agree to
cooperate in organizing 3
levels of workshops for
school teachers nation-
wide:
1.Basic Level
41

42. Teacher Training Workshop in
 120 teachers/workshop Level
Astronomy: Basic + 5
workshops/year  600
teachers/year
 Goals: To provide school teachers
with
1. sufficient knowledge in general
astronomy for school teaching
2. experiences in astronomical
observations
3. concept ideas on the development
of astronomy curriculum in school 42

43. Teacher Training Workshop in
 Astronomy: Intermediate Level
30 teachers/workshop, 1
workshop/year select teachers
from BASIC level workshop or
teachers who has experiences in
teaching astronomy in school
 Goals: To provide school teachers
with
1. More skill in astronomical
observations, how to plan for
observations and using telescopes
and additional detectors for
43

44. Teacher Training Workshop in
Astronomy: Advance Level
 15-20 teachers with
students/workshop, 1
workshop/year by invitation only
 Goals:
1. To organize “Project-based”
workshop in astronomy
2. To provide observational, data
collections and reduction skills for
teachers and students by using
NARIT’s telescope including the
“Remote Control Telescope” in
Chile 44

45. Learning through remote observations
f Remote 0.6-meter telescope of NARIT (2012) at Ce
n Observatory (CTIO), Chile to join University of No
ect for GRB monitoring. This will also serve as a pla
ects, undergraduate and high school education in T
11-01-2010 45

46. Sample of a Research Project using
the PROMPT telescope, CTIO, Chile
A Teacher Training Project “A
Study on Physical Parameters and
Evolution a Close Binary System,
AY Aquarius
Light curve of a
binary system, AY
PROMPT Aqr in V-band by
Telescope remote observation 46

47. Public Outreach Activities

48. You are Galileo! In Thailand (NAOJ-
NARIT)
in November and December 2012

49. Astrophotography
Workshop

50. South-E Asia Regional Office of
ast
Astronomy for Development (SEA
ROAD) of the IAU
The National Astronomical Research
Institute of Thailand (NARIT) has been
selected to coordinate the International
Astronomical Union (IAU) astronomy-for-
development activities in the South East
Asian region.
On 27 August 2012 the IAU signed
an important agreement with NARIT who

51. South-E Asia Regional Office of
ast
Astronomy for Development (SEA
ROAD) of the IAU
Signing Agreement on 27 August 2012

52. International Training Center in
Astronomy Under Auspices of UNE SCO
The Thai Cabinet approved the
proposal on “The International
Training Center in Astronomy
Under Auspices of the UNESCO.
The proposal has been submitted
to the UNESCO Headquarter in
Paris, FRANCE. This center will be