Imagine being selected for an exciting international space science event; a golden ticket like no other. However, due to funding constraints, that golden ticket turns to ash in your hands. This was the bitter reality for a Thai student who was unable to partake in the prestigious JAXA Asian Try Zero G competition – a platform hosted by Japan for the robust exchange of ideas and fostering groundbreaking space experiments. Running out of gas before even leaving the runway, the Thai government couldn’t muster the resources needed for this studious representative’s airfare.
At the eye of this unfortunate situation is Thailand’s National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) SPACE Education programme, the conveyor belt responsible for shipping genius minds to such international events. For context, JAXA Asian Try Zero G sees young students from ASEAN countries, each more promising than the last, to delve into exhilarating space science experiments.
Cunningly, Japan’s approach towards this programme hinges on a cocktail of hard and soft power elements. The hard power is clad in rigid, heavy-duty technological armor, showcasing Japan’s ground-breaking creations and economic standing. The soft power, pleasing to the senses, dances to the tunes of culture – cartoons, music, films, science, and education – a seductive visage aimed to lure foreigners towards their scientific ventures. By extending scholarships, Japan presents the cherry on top of this unique, diplomatic enterprises.
Within this framework, ASEAN’s high-achieving youth get to rub shoulders with Japanese astronauts in the International Space Station (ISS), a high-tech playground to perform groundbreaking experiments. Through a live stream, the event reaches a global audience, bolstering the reputation of these young scientific maestros.
However, a road bump came in the form of a Facebook post by Mr. Title, the owner of the SpaceTH.co page. A selected student, scheduled to serve as a national representative, bore the brunt of the financial shortcomings. Illuminating the gravity of this issue, Dr Jessada Denduangboripant from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Science lamented on the students’ struggle to flex their scientific muscles on the global stage.
Bags packed, and experiment ideas floating in their nascent minds, these students were given the opportunity to take their promising ideas to Japan’s hallowed JAXA space station. The flight hurdle proved too big for these ambitious students to scale, forcing them to turn to sponsors for their airfare funding needs. Sanook reported that Thailand’s NSTDA had to clip their wings and cut the airfare budget.
This wasn’t a one-time glitch either. History seems to echo in the hallways of Thailand’s scientific exploits, as even in the former KIBO project, the student winners found themselves on a similar treasure hunt for airfare sponsors.
The underrated potential of these children is a national asset that ought to be valued. They bear the flag, carving out a scientific reputation for the country whilst kindling interest in science. The stakes are high, and the costs are manageable. It goes without saying that the Ministry of Science needs to find a solution to prevent such talent rom logging off because of logistical pitfalls.
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