Thursday July 29, 2021 – The Coordinating Center for the Plant Genetic Conservation Project Under the Royal Initiation of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (RSPG), Khon Kaen University held a meeting to strengthen the school botanical garden network under the topic, “Integration of Instruction for Thai Youths to Be Aware of Natural Resource Conservation”. Prof. Thidarat Boonmars, Ph.D., Vice President of Khon Kaen University for Innovation and Enterprise presided over the opening ceremony while Asst. Prof. Juthaporn Sawaengkaew, Deputy Director of the Coordinating Center for the Royal Project conveyed a reporting speech and details of the event. Over 460 participants were from schools, institutions and interested organizations. The event took place at the Learning Center 1301, 3rd Floor, Khon Kaen University Library and online via Zoom Meeting and Facebook Live.
Asst. Prof. Juthaporn Sawaengkaew, Deputy Director of the Coordinating Center for the Royal Project reported, “This forum is aimed at making people understand the work of the school botanical garden correctly according to the RSPG guidelines and jointly make the work successful. Implementation involves training school teachers who are members of school botanical garden and personnel from official departments that carry out work under the Royal Projects to see the importance of school botanical garden. This is also a mission of Khon Kaen University and is under the 5th phase of the 6th year (October 1, 2016 – September 30, 2021). The activities today include a talk on the importance and the work of school botanical garden and a forum to strengthen the network of school botanical garden.”
Prof. Thidarat Boonmars, Ph.D., Vice President of Khon Kaen University for Innovation and Enterprise mentioned in her opening speech that one intention of Khon Kaen University is “Social Devotion.” KKU always encourages researchers to utilize their research outcomes in communities to upgrade people’s quality of life. Another intention is to become a Lifelong Learning Center for the society. Presently, a lot of people from elsewhere come to the campus to learn and join the University’s different events. KKU has carried out work for the Plant Genetic Conservation Project Under the Royal Initiation of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (RSPG) for 24 years. Researchers from KKU have done the work by surveying, studying, researching biological resources as well as local wisdoms and cultures in order to preserve the resources of the Northeast. Khon Kaen University also serves as being the Coordinating Center for the Royal Project. One important mission is to conserve natural resources and carry out work according to HRH’s purposes. “KKU provides training for different departments, universities, and schools, as well as trains personnel in the targeted areas according to RSPG programs. The work, besides school botanical garden, includes being a local resource base, mentoring administration of local resource databases for the provincial and local administrative organizations, and assisting in carrying out work according to the Royal intention. The activities arranged at the event today will cover guidelines useful for the work of school botanical garden and enable participants to know the other network members who are working towards the same goal. Participants will see the importance of natural resources, exchange ideas and in the long run, can help one another.”
The special talks were given by:
Dr. Piyarat Prinyapong Charoensap, Assistant to the RSPG Project Director, on “The Importance, Background and Guidelines for School Botanical Garden, RSPG.”
Dr. Supachai Janpum, Khon Kaen Education Chief Officer, on “The Role of Schools in School Botanical Garden Project and the Work of School Botanical Garden Network”.
Asst. Prof. Penprapa Petcharaburanin, Ph.D., Advisor of the Coordinating Center for the Royal Projects, Khon Kaen University, on “The Role of the Coordinating Center for the Royal Projects, Khon Kaen University”.
The afternoon session featured a forum on:
“Factors behind Success of School Botanical Garden and the Building of School Botanical Garden Network, Integration of Instruction for Thai Youths to be Aware and Conserve Natural Resources”, moderated by Mrs. Benjamaporn Mamuk, Head of the Media section, Communications Division, Khon Kaen University, with the following guests: Mr. Supakit Sanusat, Professional level Director of Kham Kaen Nakorn School, Miss Pisada Ampapan, Director of Kaoyainakhawitayakom School, Munjakhiri, Khon Kaen, Mrs. Kanittha Sothammongkhon, Deputy Director, Senior Professional Level, School for Hearing Impaired Students, Khon Kaen.
Mr. Supakit Sanusat, Professional level Director of Kham Kaen Nakorn School, Khon Kaen explained about the work at his school. “The school already applied to be a member. Since the school is in the suburban area, there are forests with old trees, there is an idea to make the student learn about the existing flora. The school made the implementation plans, assigning a working team, sending teachers to train and go on a study trip in order to adjust what they got in the school and report to the school”.
Miss Pisada Ampapan, Director of Kaoyainakhawitayakom School, Munjakhiri, Khon Kaen talked about the work at her school, which is also in a forest area. “The communities around also come to the forest, cutting woods for kindle, collecting mushrooms and herbs. Thus, the place should be conserved and made it a learning resource for the students. As the school has no expertise in this regard, teachers were sent to train from village sage. The school also improved the area and made a study route for natural studies”.
Mrs. Kanittha Sothammongkhon, Deputy Director, Senior Professional Level, School for Hearing Impaired Students, Khon Kaen explained about the work. She believes in the potential of the students and sees that the school botanical garden is useful for all students, but the problem is the use of hand language to transfer the knowledge obtained from training. However, with strong intention, the work will become successful soon.
News: Banjamaporn Mamuk
Photos: Waritta Hongkarnjanakul
The Coordinating Center for the Plant Genetic Conservation Project Under the Royal Initiation of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (RSPG), Khon Kaen University
