press release Chevron and NSTDA Launch “Maker Faire Bangkok 2018”

Bangkok – January 20, 2018 – Chevron Thailand Exploration and Production, Ltd., together with the Ministry of Science and Technology’s National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) and partners, today launched “Maker Faire Bangkok 2018”, Southeast Asia’s largest exhibition of inventions and innovations. Thai and international makers are showcasing their cutting-edge creations at this event and sharing ideas and experiences with visitors at more than 80 booths. A wide range of activities and workshops have also been prepared to kindle interest in science and technology among the younger generation and the general public. The event aims to support the growth of the maker culture in Thailand and strengthen the foundation for producing quality human resources in the areas of STEM, which will be crucial in shaping Thailand into an innovation-driven society under the government’s Thailand 4.0 policy. The fair is open to the public on January 20 and 21, 2018 in front of The Street Ratchada and over 10,000 visitors attended the event.

 

Dr. Suvit Maesincee, Minister of Science and Technology, said “The Ministry of Science and Technology aims to transform Thailand into a Makers Nation, that uses technologies and innovations to drive the country forward in a strong, wealthy and sustainable way under the government’s Thailand 4.0 policy. Makers are individuals or a group of people who love turning their imaginations into creations. They are capable of coming up with new products and innovations and this greatly increases the country’s economic value. It is therefore crucial to support the maker culture in Thailand so that it grows strongly and sustainably. This is in line with the ministry’s mission to support the creation of innovations to move Thai society into the 4.0 era. In addition, the maker culture helps improve STEM education, since it allows students to learn by doing, enjoy first-hand experiences and thus understand lessons better. This equips the younger generation with significant knowledge and skills to successfully adapt to rapid changes in technologies in the 21^st century. The ministry is delighted that NSTDA and its partners have joined Chevron Thailand in holding the Maker Faire Bangkok and expects that this activity will help raise awareness and kindle interest in the maker culture among youngsters and the general public and inspire them to create their own inventions, marking the beginning of a strong innovation-driven society in the future.”

 

Dr. Narong Sirilertworakul, president, the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), added “NSTDA’s main priority is to support the research and development of technologies and innovations, which plays a significant role in driving the country’s economy. The maker movement is today crucial to leading changes with creativity in several developed countries. NSTDA recognizes the part the maker movement plays in supporting the creation of new innovations and in sharing knowledge about technologies. Therefore, NSTDA is very pleased to partner with the Chevron Enjoy Science project to arrange activities on a continuous basis to spread and kindle interest in the maker culture among a wider group of Thai society, and especially the younger generation. The event marks the first full-scale Maker Faire this year in Bangkok and the biggest in Southeast Asia, expanding on the successes of the Bangkok Mini Maker Faire Year 1 and 2, which brought together makers from all over Asia to showcase their creations and share knowledge with visitors. NSTDA expects that this event will help the country promote Thailand’s status as the hub of makers in the region and sustainably cultivate an economy driven by technology and innovations.”

 

Pairoj Kaweeyanun, president, Chevron Thailand Exploration and Production, Ltd., said “We are very pleased and proud to continually support the maker culture in Thailand through the ‘Chevron Enjoy Science’ project in collaboration with the public and private sectors under the ‘public-private partnership policy’ to sustainably enhance the country’s competitiveness through our support of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, or STEM education both in and outside the classroom. The project has long collaborated with partners, especially NSTDA and NSM, to promote the maker culture through a wide range of activities, namely the organization of Maker Faire for 3 consecutive years and the Enjoy Maker Space, which is a creative space open to youngsters to unleash their imagination to create their own inventions. The partnership includes organizing sessions and workshops for educators to incorporate elements of maker culture into their classes as well as the ‘Enjoy Science: Young Makers Contest’, which challenges students to come up with ideas and produce inventions to improve quality of life in our society. We truly believe that this Maker Faire Bangkok will help kindle interest and inspiration in the maker culture among a wider group of people, creating a new breed of innovators to move Thailand forward to the 4.0 era in a sustainable way.”

 

Makers from across Asia exhibited their inventions and shared their knowledge and experiences at Maker Faire Bangkok 2018. Highlights included the “Electric Parade,” a parade of lights and sounds, the “Tuk-Tuk Racing” VR Game, and an exhibition of cutting-edge inventions by Japanese makers, as well as workshops where visitors can have fun creating their own inventions as makers. The winners of “Enjoy Science: Young Makers Contest Year 2” on the topic of Innovations for Safer Communities, under the Chevron Enjoy Science project, have also been announced at the event, The winning teams are granted the opportunity to participate in Maker Faire Bay Area, the original and world-class exhibition of inventions by makers in San Francisco, the United States, as well as receive other prizes valued at more than 1.2 million baht in total.

 

*Remark: For more details and updates on Maker Faire Bangkok, please visit www.bangkokmakerfaire.com

About Enjoy Science: Chevron’s Enjoy Science project, is a five-year, public private partnership designed to strengthen Thailand’s competitiveness and innovation by improving STEM and vocational education across the country. This program is one of five major economic development initiatives undertaken across Chevron’s global operations by partnering with a range of partners in civil society, academia, the private sector, and the government, including the National Science Technology and Innovation Policy Office (STI), the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), the National Science Museum (NSM), the Office of Basic Education Commission (OBEC), the Office of Vocational Education Commission (OVEC), the Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology (IPST), and the Ministry of Labor’s Department of Skills Development (DSD). The project is operated by Kenan Institute Asia.