Thailand's Research Council investigates links with UOW

Oct 10, 2005

A delegation from the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) visited the University of Wollongong today (October 10).

The delegation was on a fact-finding mission to inspect some of UOW's internationally-acclaimed research centres, and to investigate the possibilities of both research collaboration and of forming a network of researchers in the Physical Sciences and Mathematics.

UOW Vice-Chancellor Professor Gerard Sutton welcomed the delegates, who included Professor Youngwimn Lenbury, Assistant Professor Tanakorn Osotchan and Assistant Professor Weerachai Siripunvaraport(all from Mahidol University), NRCT Research, Policy and Planning Division Director Mrs Duangworaporn Sittivate and NRCT Policy and Planning Analyst Mrs Chalomphon Boonboothara.

Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Margaret Sheil gave the Thai visitors an overview of the University's research programs before they inspected some of UOW's research institutes.

Their itinerary included:

. Meeting Professor Gordon Wallace, Director of the Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, and inspecting IPRI's nanotechnology laboratories;

. Meeting Professor Shi Dou, Director of the Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials, and visiting the superconductor laboratories;

. Inspecting the Earth and Environmental Science Laboratories with Head of School Professor Colin Murray-Wallace;

. Meeting Professor Jim Hill and Associate Professor Graham Williams from the Faculty of Informatics for an overview of the University's mathematics research.

The delegation also met Thai researchers currently studying at UOW.

Wollongong attracts more Thai students than other Australian universities, and currently has 542 students enrolled. The University also has many other close ties with Thailand.

For example, in 2002 the University conferred an Honorary Doctorate on the King of Thailand, His Majesty Bhumibol Adulyadej. In 1999 Professor Dr HRH Princess Chulabhorn Mahidol travelled to Wollongong to receive an Honorary Doctorate and to sign an Education and Scientific Agreement with the University.