Astronomy Education and Popularization in Thailand

Boonrucksar SOONTHORNTHUM, Busaba KRAMER

National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT), Ministry of Science and Technology, Bangkok 10400, THAILAND

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Abstract

Education and popularization in Astronomy have been promoted significantly in Thailand during the past decade. For astronomy education, astronomy contents are included in fundamental science subject for both elementary and high school levels. Short course training programs in Astronomy for elementary and high-school teachers have been organized by higher educational institutes throughout Thailand to provide more experiences to teachers on principles, current topics, observations and hands-on materials in astronomy. Various out-of-class activities have been organized in schools ie. young astronomers club, astronomy projects etc.

For astronomy popularization, several leading organizations such as universities, national science museum, science education center, Thai astronomical society have conducted activities in astronomy public outreach programs. Several observatories and planetariums have been established and open for public services in astronomy and space science. Public lectures were carried out in different astronomy domains. Exhibitions and hands-on activities in astronomy have been organized in national levels such as National Science Week, National Children Day etc. Public relations in astronomical events and phenomena have been done to various public media both by articles, spots and interviews.

National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) is the main astronomical institute of the country which plays important roles not only in astronomical researches but also supporting astronomical educations and outreach activities. The institute initiates astronomical network and authentic partnerships with related institutes both in national and international levels. Many national and international astronomical public outreach activities have been mutually planned and organized such as International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA), International Heliophysical Year’s activities (IHY) and International Year for Astronomy (IYA).

  1. Historical Background

Astronomy popularization played an important role in Thailand since 1600. Astronomy has been one of the interests of the King of Siam (Former name of Thailand). In the reign of King Narai the great (1629-1688 A.D.), French missionaries came to Siam to publicize religion. They brought some scientific instruments and knowledge also to Siam. Astronomy was one in the field of science which was introduced to the Kingdom of Siam. The first astronomical observatory called “Wat San Paolo Observatory” was established in Loburi province during 1685-1687 A.D. King Narai and the court observed the total lunar eclipse on December 10, 1685 and the partial solar eclipse, which was totality in China, on April 29, 1688 with French astronomers (See Figure 1). However, astronomy had not developed continuously after the end of the reign of King Narai. So astronomy was almost neglected in Siam for over 180 years until the reign of King Rama IV, the father of Thai Science, who was interested in astronomy. He studied both Hindu and western astronomical text books and learnt to use astronomical telescope. He was the first who made a precise calculation of the time and location of the Total Solar Eclipse on August 18, 1868 at Wha-kor district in Prachuab Kirikhan province, Thailand (See Figure 2). King RAMA IV publicized many scientific information of many astronomical phenomena to publics and brought the Thai kingdom to modern science era. In spite of the fact that astronomy became popularized for over a hundred years ago in Thailand but there was no record on the astronomy education in the past.

Figure 1: King Nari observed the solar Figure 2: King Rama IV observed the total

eclipse on April 29, 1688. solar eclipse on August 18, 1868.

  1. Present Situations

Many academic institutes and science centers all over Thailand involve in promoting education and popularization in astronomy. At present, astronomy becomes more popularized in Thailand. Communities enjoy participating in astronomical activities and learning more about astronomy. Astronomy is one of the important tools for promoting science awareness and alertness.Many organizations such as Thai Astronomical Society (TAS), the Promotion of Academic Olympiads and Development of Science Education Foundation (POSN), universities, schools etc. organize various astronomical activities and public outreaches.

Several activities in astronomy were organized by many organizations. Many astronomy outreach programs have been planned and done continuously. Astronomy camps for students are organized by universities and Thai Astronomical Society. The Promotion of Academic Olympiads and Development of Science Education Foundation in collaboration with universities organizes intensive training courses for students in astronomy Olympiad and the National Astronomy Olympiad Competition. The 1st International Olympiad in Astronomy and Astrophysics (1st IOAA) was organized in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand during November 30 - December 9, 2007. This international astronomical activity was involved by many organizations in Thailand and became recognized to publics.

Astronomical public services become more popular in Thailand. Many observatories which mostly belong to universities open to publics regularly especially when some interesting astronomical phenomena such as eclipses, meteor showers, planetary opposition etc. are able to be observed. Publics are always alerted to share experiences in astronomical phenomena through various public media.

During the past decade, several organizations establish astronomy information system through computer network. The Institute for Promotion in Teaching Science and Technology (IPST) in collaboration with Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University initiate “Astronomy Network for Schools (ANS)”. The purpose of this network is to provide the up-to-date astronomical information for schools and publics. Many hands-on activities and astronomical images are provided through this network.

In the past decade, for the education in school level, astronomy was almost neglected, only some astronomy contents were offered in high school curriculum for Art’s students. Until 2001, the Ministry of Education made a major revision of science contents for schools, astronomy contents were decided to add to the National Science Curriculum in basic science contents and become compulsory for school teaching in all levels from grade 1-12.

The result from the major revision of the National Science Curriculum made a serious shortage of teachers who are capable to teach astronomy. Moreover, the lack of text books and teaching media in astronomy for schools is another barrier for teaching astronomy in schools. The development of astronomy contents in National Science Curriculum is in charged by the Institute for Promotion in Teaching Science and Technology (IPST) with the close collaboration of universities and NARIT.

Higher education in astronomy is responsible by various universities in Thailand both in undergraduate and graduate levels. Professional telescopes and equipments, experience staffs, teaching and research experiences are still needed for the universities.

  1. Roles of NARIT in Promoting Astronomy Education and Popularization in Thailand.

The National Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) was established on July 20, 2004 directly under the Ministry of Science and Technology. One of the main strategic plans of NARIT is to promote public awareness in science and technology using astronomy and astronomy popularization. So, NARIT will play an important role in supporting education and popularization in astronomy for the whole country.

The strategic and action plans of NARIT in astronomical education and popularization are as follows:

  1. National Policy: NARIT is also involved in the national policy making for astronomy education and popularization by setting up a 4-year strategic and action plans.
  2. Promoting outreach programme: NARIT has carried out various outreach programme such as Astronomy Mobile Unit, Astronomy Exhibitions, Observatory Public Nights. The outreach programme have a strong promotion from various mass media nationwide.
  3. Promoting formal and informal astronomy education: NARIT cooperate with IPST for development the formal and informal astronomy education by arranging teacher’s short course training programs, astronomy network for schools, teacher. NARIT also supports amateur astronomers through Thai Astronomical Society and supports Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiads Competition through the Promotion of Academic Olympiads and Development of Science Education Foundation.

NARIT’s action plans are implemented with the collaborating academic institutes all over Thailand. NARIT also establishes “Astronomical Information Service and Training Center” at Doi Inthanon mountain, Chiang Mai province. This center will serve publics the astronomical information, data, images and training camp for students and teachers. The astronomy mobile unit is established at NARIT to extend several public outreach activities to cover all regions in the country. Future plan for NARIT in supporting education and public outreach activities is to establish a “Live -Long Learning and Youth Research Center in Astronomy”. This center is planned to be located in 100 acre land of Chom Thong district at the foot of Doi Inthanon mountain in Chiang Mai. International astronomical outreach programme are also planned with the collaborative institutes in the near future such as the collaboration in the “School Observatory” using 2-meter class telescope with Astrophysics Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University in U.K. etc. Recently, NARIT has organized on several international activities with IAU and other foreign academic institutes namely, the 1st International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (1st IOAA) and the International Heliophysical Year 2007 (IHY 200). In 2008-2009, NARIT will join IAU in public outreach activities on the International Year of Astronomy (IYA).

Figure 3: Astronomical public outreach activities in Thailand.

  1. Summary

Roles of NARIT in supporting education and popularization will help in promoting astronomical public activities in Thailand. Students and people in Thailand will have more opportunity to access standard astronomical facilities and learning materials. Within the next decade, all astronomy school teachers would be well-trained and able to conduct both formal and informal education efficiently. Consequently, the final goal of NARIT in supporting astronomy education and popularization is to take part in developing Thailand to become leaning and knowledge-based societies.

References

Kramer, B., 2006, in: J.B. Hearnshaw and P. Martinez (eds.), Astronomy for the developing world, IAU Special Session at the 25th General Assembly, p. 123-127.

Sawasdee, A., 200, in Astronomical Archives from France Concerning Siam Kingdom in the Reign

of King Narai, The Thai Astronomical Society, P 89-127.