Bangkok: Chiang Mai University (CMU) has been awarded the National Research Award for the fiscal year 2026 by the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), a recognition of its significant contributions to research and academic achievements that address national needs in agriculture, society, and the environment.
According to Thai News Agency, the award ceremony, organized by the NRCT under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, was a platform for showcasing academic conferences, commercially viable innovations, and research projects with practical applications. This highlights CMU’s commitment to national and regional development challenges. The university’s award-winning projects, recognized for their utility and application, include research in agriculture, social sciences, and environmental sciences.
Professor Dr. Nipon Theeramphon from the Faculty of Engineering was honored with the National Outstanding Researcher Award in Information Technology and Communication. Other notable accolades include the Outstanding Research Achievement in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences awarded to Associate Professor Dr. Chalermchai Pilapong for his project on non-destructive MRI brain imaging. Professor Dr. Pinkaew Lueangoramsri received the Excellent Research Award in Sociology for her work on China’s transnational economic zones in ASEAN.
Additional awards included the Excellent Research Achievement in Sociology for enhancing healthcare services for the elderly, led by Associate Professor Dr. Aranya Siriphol, and a project on revitalizing cultural capital from waterways by Associate Professor Dr. Sant Suwattharapinan. Assistant Professor Dr. Hansa Sethabuppha was recognized for a study on life skills training for anger management.
Moreover, CMU was recognized for innovative inventions, including an outstanding invention in agriculture and biology by Associate Professor Dr. Korawan Sri-ngam, a rapid diagnosis method for Melioidosis by Assistant Professor Dr. Somsakul Wongpaley, and a low-energy gas sensor development platform by Associate Professor Dr. Chaikarn Leohiran.
The event also celebrated outstanding theses, such as Dr. Patthamon Kongkambutra’s work on time crystal fabrication and Dr. Patcharapong Panthiya’s research on exercise and brain aging. Other notable thesis awards were given for studies in microalgae cultivation, bioderivatization concepts, and the impact of social media during the coronavirus crisis.
These awards underscore Chiang Mai University’s role as a leading research institution in Thailand, dedicated to creating solutions with practical applications that benefit the economy, society, and environment.