feature Maker Faire Bangkok 2019 showcased the best of Asia’s makers

Bangkok (January 22, 2019) – “Maker Faire Bangkok 2019: WE ARE ALL MAKERS”, Southeast Asia’s largest exhibition of inventions and innovations, wrapped this weekend with raving reviews from visitors. The event, organized by Chevron Thailand Exploration and Production, Ltd., together with the Ministry of Science and Technology’s National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Thailand Maker Community and partners, assembled veteran local and international makers, bringing together over 70 booths of the best works and inspiring workshops to kindle interest in science and technology among more than 7,000 visitors of the 2-day event. Maker Faire Bangkok expanded on the growing success of the annual event that promises to help shape Thailand into a Makers Nation. The vision is that of Thailand being driven by budding technological prowess, creativity and innovation, in alignment with the Thailand 4.0 vision. The fair took place during January 19-20, 2019 in front of the Street Ratchada.

 

Maker Faire Bangkok 2019: WE ARE ALL MAKERS featured on-stage demonstrations and talks, displaying a wide array of inventions from local and international makers including homemade electric cars, paper robots powered by the wind, solar-powered agricultural robots, rubber chicken orchestra, and cosplay costumes made from rubber. The famed and much-awaited Electric Parade returned in a traditional performance with Thai drums, entertaining fairgoers and exhibiting makers alike. DIY workshops were available to bring out the maker in all visitors, such as software programming courses as well as wind-up dolls and toothbrush robot making sessions. The event also helped reduce plastic and paper waste by opting for environmentally friendly materials and using natural light at the fair.

 

The winners of the Enjoy Science: Young Makers Contest Year 3 in the general and vocational categories have also been announced, with the water-cleaning robot from Satriphatthalung school and the Clean Oyster machine from Suratthani Technical College claiming top prizes. Both teams will attend Maker Faire Bay Area in San Francisco, USA to show their works and meet other makers across the world to continue their makers’ journey in the future.

 

Artit Krichphiphat, business support general manager, Chevron Thailand Exploration and Production, Ltd., said “Makers are a driving force behind this country’s future development. Their works can have commercial applications, ignite cutting-edge innovations that will improve people’s quality of life and become a source of immense economic value. Many countries, including Thailand, prioritize their support for maker culture for this very reason. The Ministry of Science and Technology has recently announced the plan to upgrade Thailand into a Makers Nation and Chevron is pleased to partner with them to turn this vision into reality, together with NSTDA, the National Science Museum (NSM), the Office of the Vocational Education Commission (OVEC), the Thailand Maker Community and other partners, under Chevron Enjoy Science. The project supports the growth of maker culture through a variety of activities, which have been very well-received. Our highlight activity is Maker Faire Bangkok, a creative arena for makers to display their works and introduce the maker culture to a wider audience. The fair has become Southeast Asia’s largest Maker Faire. Another Enjoy Science activity, Young Makers Contest, which is an invention competition for vocational and general education students, has been held for the past three years, with the number of submissions rising year-on-year. These young makers’ invention ideas can be turned into real marketable products that can benefit the society. The scale of work shows young Thai people have the capacity to create innovations and are true makers, which is a fact that I’m very proud of.”