Highlights

Hazardous waste is close to us and the community. The Center of Excellence on Hazardous Substance Management (HSM) Chula has used research to push the End of Waste policy, manage E-Waste continuously, and conduct Mega Project research to study oil rigs that will not be used in the future, while pleading for all sectors to participate in solving the problem for better health and environment. 

The Institute of Thai Studies, Chulalongkorn University, in collaboration with the Department of Cultural Promotion, Ministry of Culture, is promoting the “Pha Khao Ma and the Thai Way of Life”, which is a national cultural heritage, to the UNESCO stage by accelerating the systematic creation of a database of Thai Pha Khao Ma patterns from all sectors for the benefit of preserving the national cultural heritage and promoting the creation of Pa Khao Ma identity patterns by organizations and communities, including the utilization of the database for further development in the community enterprise and marketing sectors to increase the economic value of Pha Khao Ma and the sustainable expansion of the community economy. 

Prof. Dr. Suchana Chavanich, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University journeys to the Antarctic to survey the global warming conditions and microplastic waste that’s believed to cause higher polar temperatures.  This has been the cause of melting polar ice caps, high sea pressure, emerging diseases, and changing fish behavior which has had ripple effects around the world, including Thailand. 

The Sirindhorn Thai Language Institute, Chulalongkorn University, organizes the CU-TFL, a Thai language proficiency test for foreigners, based on international standards. It has invited many universities in the country to take part in creating a national standard, and also now offers the test abroad, such as in Taiwan, China, and Japan. 

In a bid to promote cultural tourism, a team led by researchers from Chulalongkorn University incorporates cutting-edge Virtual Reality (VR) technology to bring Wat Arun to life. Through the “Temple of Dawn VR Game” project, visitors can exclusively explore restricted areas in the temple and appreciate the historical, cultural, and architectural beauty of Thailand’s prominent landmark.

Chulalongkorn University has now opened a Center for Health and Well-being Promotion for Older People at the Faculty of Nursing to offer complete support for an aged society. Applying new knowledge from research findings and multidisciplinary collaboration, providing comprehensive care for frail older people, helping them maintain their functional abilities and become more self-care, ultimately improving their quality of life. 

A lecturer from the Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, recommends utilizing food production technology to develop “food as medicine” products derived from Thai herbs, vegetables, and fruits. This initiative aims to enhance public health, mitigate the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and contribute to the country’s economic growth by integrating traditional Thai wisdom in food and agriculture. 

Associate Professor Dr. Ronnapee Chaichaowarat, Faculty of Engineering, Chula opened the door to his robotics lab showing the Exoskeleton Wheelchair prototype for the elderly and people with mobility problems so they can leave their wheelchair behind to stand and walk with one robot. 

A gray and black Thai dog model lies still on a table. Veterinary students from Chulalongkorn University are focusing on inserting a needle to practice their blood sampling skills. All of a sudden, a bark is heard, and a light blinks on the signal box. The students immediately realize that their needlepoint is not correct. They must try inserting the needle again. If there is no bark, this is a sign that they passed! 

Durian has found a new purpose beyond its strong aroma and distinct flavor. Researchers at Chulalongkorn University have successfully transformed this pungent yet beloved fruit into a groundbreaking ingredient for premium skincare products, leveraging cutting-edge green technology and sustainable practices.

“Toys and home decorations for the elderly”, an innovation that creates good physical and mental well-being, helps slow down memory lapses, and reduces the risk of depression. Most recently, the item won the 2024 Creative Excellence Awards 2024 in the category of creative power for society, reaffirming its success in designing to improve the quality of life of the elderly.

A Chula Ph.D. student has developed Virtual StudioLab, an innovative virtual science classroom that earned her a gold medal in South Korea, sparking scientific creativity and training Thai children to learn reflectively and participate in the real world. 

A Chulalongkorn University veterinary science student has won a world-class award for her work on “Rose Kefir,” a health drink rich in vital substances that help boost immunity and fight free radicals, which are factors that cause cancer. Plans are now underway to patent and develop it for commercial production. 

“Whooping Cough” is a bacterial respiratory tract infection that causes severe, persistent coughing, with particularly severe symptoms in young children under 6 months old. Older children, teenagers, and adults who have previously been vaccinated typically develop less severe symptoms. However, vaccine-induced immunity does not last a lifetime, and individuals are recommended to consider receiving a booster shot to enhance immunity. 

MitrEarth, an online platform by Chulalongkorn University lecturers, provides simple, easy-to-understand geological knowledge along with innovative topographic map data sets for each province, identifies risk points, and gives warnings and updates on disasters for the preparedness of the people in the area.  

Boosting health and quality of life with safe and drug-free physical therapy with Prof. Dr.  Prawit Janwantanakul, President of the Physical Therapy Council and Lecturer at the Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University  

From fertilizer to secret beauty formula, a research team from the Halal Science Center, Chulalongkorn University, has discovered that the peels of Pathum Thani’s Hom Thong Pathum bananas contain substances that reduce inflammation from acne and restore skin moisture. This has led to the development of “anti-acne film-forming solution” skincare products, providing consumers with more natural product options and a sustainable way to add value to agricultural waste.” 

Chulalongkorn University researchers have produced an innovative nano-coating paper archival varnish that extends the life of the paper for 15-20 years. The paper will not rot, change its color, get moldy, or even dusty.  This is another effort to conserve documents, paintings, and old photos. Both librarians and book lovers who want to preserve books will love them.

ChulaGENIE, a multilingual, multimodal generative AI application built using Google Cloud’s Vertex AI platform, is tailored to meet the research and learning needs of Chula’s diverse community 

Responsible AI tools on Vertex AI enable ChulaGENIE to deliver safe, private, and secure AI experiences to more than 50,000 staff, faculty members, and students 

Muay Thai is fast on the rise and has become yet another form of soft power that generates income for the country. Boxing stadiums are popular attractions that attract tourists to witness this special form of Thai martial art. Many boxing camps are bustling with foreigners interested in learning about the sport, and many Muay Thai competition venues have emerged in both the capital and major tourist provinces. Boxing shorts are a “must-have souvenir” from Thailand.