PSU.SCI Notes
Issue 05 November 2021
Outstanding project Researchers from PSU develop highly employable tramadol test kit Asst. Prof. Dr. Apichai Phonchai
Researchers at the Faculty of Science, PSU developed a test kit for tramadol. Compared to the internationally available test kits, the newly developed set identifies this drug easily, informs about the results quickly, and is available at a much lower price. The problem of drug misuse or drug abuse among adolescents and students in Thailand has intensified and is the main reason for the initiation of other drugs. Mixing painkillers with various beverages such as energy drinks or soft drinks until becoming intoxicated is the most common new drug in Southern Thailand. It can cause euphoria, relaxation and intoxication. When used in large quantities, it can result in limb weakness, spasms, unconsciousness and can lead to possible death. Asst. Prof. Dr. Apichai Phonchai, lecturer in the Division of Health and Applied Sciences, developed a tramadol test kit that is easy to use, easy to carry, and provides results within 5 minutes. It can detect the drug both mixed in beverages and capsules. As forensic evidence, it is applied to detect a drug overdose death or to verify drugs seized from smugglers as well as to prevent and control drug abuse among adolescents. This test kit is cheaper than the imported one, which costs 2,000-3,000 THB, while the manufactured tramadol test kit costs 450 THB. It is also used as teaching aids in the Introduction to Drug Analysis and Introduction to Forensic Science courses at the bachelor's degree level as well as in Forensic Chemistry and Drug Analysis at the master's degree level. Currently under study and laboratory testing, the research team aims to extend the test kit for more applications, such as developing a urine or saliva test kit. The test kit is available at the PSU Science Learning and Innovation Centre https://slice.sci.psu.ac.th/.
Alumni - Say Hi! Graduated with Master of Science in Chemistry in 2015, Lecturer at the Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Royal University of Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Phal Sereilakhena, Cambodia phal.sereilakhena@gmail.com
PSU made me feel like I was at home. I appreciated all the hospitality, care and encouragement I got from all lecturers/profs,friends and faculty staff. Cutting edge facilities and highly experienced lecturers facilitated our learning and research. PSU provided me not only knowledge and skills but also improved my interpersonal skills. I loved the study environment and the way people help each other. Thinking about life at PSU always puts a smile on my face.
International and Public Relations
https://sites.google.com/psu.ac.th/sci-ir
+66 74 28 8008
sci.inter.psu.ac.th@gmail.com
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PSU.SCI Notes
Issue 05 November 2021
Upcoming
1. ICTSGS-1 2. Online Roadshow 3. Online courses
International Conference on Technologies for Smart Green Connected Societies You are welcome to join the First International Conference on Technologies for Smart Green Connected Societies (ICTSGS-1) (see more: https://www.ictsgs.com). The Conference will be held on November 29-30, 2021 (online). Researchers, students, and everyone who is interested, to participate in this conference can register with this link: https://spast.org/techrep/user/register This conference opens opportunities for Proceedings / ECS Transactions indexed on Scopus (Impact Score 0.52). Moreover, your work will get a chance to be published in the Journal of the Electrochemical Society (Impact Factor 4.316, Q1) or Journal of Solid State Science and Technology (Impact Factor 2.070, Q2). Topics and Conference Tracks are available
at https://www.ictsgs.com.
Online Roadshows in February 2022
How can you benefit from one of the roadshows?
- Study opportunities presented - Insights into research focus and expertise - Scholarships and collaborations - Process to continue graduate studies at Faculty of Science, PSU Interested? Fill out this form
Online courses
Editorial Note One year of PSU.SCI Notes newsletter has passed - we are happy to provide you with our latest news and information! Exciting events keep taking place. May it be the 7 December 2021 for example, where PSU is opening for teaching on site, conferences, or virtual exchange. Let’s embrace these opportunities and stay in touch.
Impressum
For semester 2/2021 the faculty offers five courses with credit transfer. The course topics are: Calculus II Computational Physics I General Chemistry II Geohazards Short course: Our Earth System
UMAP Experience: Supakorn Srisawat Texts: Anna Chatthong and Tom Freimuth BRCH fact sheet design: Tom Freimuth; BRCH factsheet text: Dania Cheaha, Tom Freimuth PSU.SCI Notes #5 design: SCI.PR
International and Public Relations
https://sites.google.com/psu.ac.th/sci-ir
(3 credits) (3 credits) (3 credits) (3 credits) (1.5 credits)
Find all information and register on our website
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PSU.SCI Notes
Issue 05 November 2021
Achievements
9 Questions with Mr Piyamit Toumsri Ph.D. student in Chemistry
1 What’s your background? My home is in Phatthalung province located in the South of Thailand. As a highschool student I decided to study sciences in the university, where I also got a scholarship from my Bachelor’s to Ph.D. So right now, I am a second-year Ph.D. student in Chemistry, here at PSU. 2 What impact did the PSU/Faculty of Science have on your life? Skills both hard and soft skills. Hard skills such as knowledge or experimental skills—these are the most important ones for my future when I graduate. And secondly the soft skills, such as communication (skills) with other people or teamwork as well as English skills. These are the skills that PSU taught me. The faculty gave me the opportunity to do an internship in China for 2 months. There I met new people and learned about Chinese culture. I also got a scholarship to join a camp in Malaysia. Together with other students from ASEAN. There I could connect with new friends from other countries. These were great opportunities that I got from the faculty and PSU. 3 What are you supposed to do that you aren’t doing? I tried many times to lose weight. It’s difficult because I love to eat delicious food. So, I am trying it again. 4 How do you motivate yourself to keep going once you are down? The first thing I do is talking to myself. What is happening and what the reason for my feeling is. Once I know the reason, I can fix it. But if I cannot figure out the reason, I should focus on something else like watching videos, series or going down to a shop. After that I feel better and motivate myself with: “You can do it!” 5 How do you define success? In my life, three words define success. The first one is happiness. You should be happy with the work you do and be happy with the people around you. The second one is health. If you have good physical and mental health you can be successful in your life. The last one is financial liquidity, not meaning that you should be too rich but to have enough money for your life and your family. 6 What’s a dream you want to pursue? After I graduate I want to teach students in school or university. I want to teach them what chemistry and science is and spark in some of them the love for science, just like with myself. Another dream I have is to become an MC or news announcer, like in radio or TV. That’s another dream in my life. 7 Your quote/motto of life: “Believe in yourself that you can do it.” If you believe in yourself, you can do it. But when you don’t believe in yourself you will fail, already in the beginning. 8 What will you never give up on? The first one is to never give up on learning, because learning gives knowledge and skills which are most important for scientists. The second one is travel because traveling is a part of me. When I travel, I get to know new cultures and create a new mindset through new experiences. 9 If you could visit one place on earth, where would you go? If I had the chance, I would travel around the world but if I had to choose, I would choose the poles of the world. I want to know what people’s lives look like at very low temperatures.
International and Public Relations
https://sites.google.com/psu.ac.th/sci-ir
New species:
Thai researchers discovered the Gem of Sri Thammarat Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sahut Chantanaorapint
It is a delight for the Thai orchid association to announce the discovery of the Sri Thammarat Gem Orchid (Corybas papillatus Inuthai, Chantanaorr. & Suddee), a new helmet orchid to the world. A team of botanists from three institutions, namely Dr. Somran Suddee, Forest Herbarium (BKF),Thai Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sahut Chantanaorapint, Prince of Songkla University herbarium (PSU), Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University; and Dr. Janejaree Inuthai, Faculty of Science and Technology, Thammasat University discovered the new orchid at Khao Luang, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. The sample was collected by BKF staff and sent to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sahut Chantanaorapint, Faculty of Science, PSU to identify the type. Through these studies the orchid was identified as a small terrestrial orchid with tubers of round or oval shape, heart-shaped single leaves, purple flowers, rounded apex of the dorsal sepal, outer surface of dorsal sepal covered with irregular papillae in the upper half, lateral sepals adnate laterally at the base to the connate petals, V-shaped throat, lip bearing short hairs, dentate to erose lip margins, and well-developed conical spurs. Upon examination, the specimen was presumed to resemble Corybas villosus J. Dransf. & Gord. Sm., previously reported in Malaysia. The examination results lead to identify Gem of Sri Thammarat as a new species through different upper sepals of the no outer ridge and lateral sepals connected to the two petals that are joined together.
+66 74 28 8008
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Research Network presented
Issue 05 November 2021
International and Public Relations https://sites.google.com/psu.ac.th/sci-ir
+66 74 28 8008
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PSU.SCI Notes
Issue 05 November 2021
Wipawadee Sukjaroen, 4th year B.Sc. Microbiology
1. Reduced risk of infection by COVID-19 2. Saved time on commuting to the campus 3. Study time can be individually arranged 4. Classes can be replayed in case of not understanding the content 5. Self-discipline to join the classes and submit assignments is practiced
Issaraporn Srisuk,
4th year B.Sc. Physics
1. Money and time on commuting saved 2. Recorded lecturers can be watched after 3. Lectures can be attended from anywhere 4. Lower tuition fee 5. More special lectures with experts
SCiZN Through a student’s eye What are the benefits of Online Learning?
UMAP COIL experience Supakorn Srisawat, 4th year B.Sc. Mathematics
*UMAP = University Mobility in Asia and the Pacific * COIL = Collaborative Online International Learning When was the UMAP* COIL Honours Program 2021 held? The project took place from August 2 until September 22, 2021—a total of 7 weeks. Where was the COIL held? There was a unique learning website for the project to communicate and follow the information which occurred every time. We also had Zoom meetings every Monday. Why did you join this project? I participated in this project to learn more about sustainable development goals or SDGs proposed by the United Nations. I want to know how these goals affect people's mindsets to advance our planet to become more sustainable and consistent in the future, and how students like us can follow their paths. With whom did you participate at the workshop? There were around 60 students from around Asian and Pacific countries. The majority of them were from Japan and the Philippines. Surprisingly, there were participants from the United States and Chile as well! Thankfully, there were 4 students from Thailand (two natives and two internationals) who also participated in this COIL project. How was the project? This project was fascinatingly fun. Various lecturers from around the world taught us on how to succeed in SDGs by developing our community, pointing out communities that currently face problems, and how to advance human resources for a better treatment. What was the most impressive thing you received from the project? Sincerity and faithfulness of fellow students in the project. They were rational, confident, intelligent, and generous. During the weekly Zoom meeting, I met various people from around the globe, discussing topics that were related to the lessons, and I shared many of my thoughts with them. What would you tell other students in our faculty about the UMAP COIL project? If you want to improve your English skills and meet new friends from around the world, you should join this project. You will also learn more about this whole wide world and develop the community to succeed in the SDGs.
International and Public Relations
https://sites.google.com/psu.ac.th/sci-ir
+66 74 28 8008
sci.inter.psu.th@gmail.com
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