On 6 January 2026, the Institute of Science at Suranaree University of Technology hosted the final round of the 28th Young Scientist Competition (YSC 2026) for the Northeastern region. The event was coordinated by SUT under the supervision of National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI).
A total of 45 teams from 12 schools across five provinces qualified for the regional finals, with each team receiving a 3,000 Baht grant to develop their projects. From this group, nine winning teams across eight main categories were selected to advance to the national level. The competition categories included Biology and Biotechnology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Earth and Environmental Science, Medical Science and Engineering, Materials Science and Materials Engineering, and Physics, Energy, and Astronomy. The regional finals were held at the Surasammanaakarn Building, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, from 5–6 January 2026.
Students from the Science, Technology, and Innovation Project Club of Khon Kaen University Demonstration Secondary School (Nawamintrachini) secured two championship awards. Each winning team was awarded a 9,000 Baht grant and qualified for the national finals, which will feature 45 teams. These teams will receive an additional 3,000 Baht grant each to develop their final presentations. The national finals are scheduled to be held at Sirindhorn Science Home, NSTDA, Pathum Thani Province, from 7–9 February 2026.
Ms. Janik Prathomjinda, Matthayom 3 student, won the championship in the Biology and Biotechnology category with her project, “Production of Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Brain Supplement from Spent Brewer’s Yeast and Malt Waste.” Her advisors included Mr. Somchok Kaew-uthath, Science Cluster teacher and advisor of the school’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Project Club, along with Associate Professor Jirawan Aphiraksakorn, Ph.D., and Dr. Natthaphorn Chamnipha, a Postdoctoral Researcher, from the Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Technology, Khon Kaen University (KKU).
Ms. Proud Ruangsaeng, Matthayom 4 student, won the championship in the Medical Science and Engineering category with her project, “Solving Acne with Traditional Thai Wisdom: Patches from Banana Fibre and Mangosteen Extract to Combat Acne Bacteria.” Her advisors included Mr. Somchok Kaew-uthath from the Science Cluster and the Science, Technology, and Innovation Project Club. She also received mentorship from Professor Kanokwan Jarukamjorn, Pharm.D., Ph.D., from the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, alongside research mentors Dr. Napapach Sitthikijpanya, Dr. Srisuda Chaiyakitkaew (Postdoctoral Researchers), and Mr. Prawat Sukphun (Ph.D. student) from the Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Technology, Khon Kaen University.
These two student teams were among the nine teams selected from the Northeastern regional finals, which initially processed 367 projects regionally and 2,625 projects nationwide.
This success is the result of the commitment, effort, perseverance, and dedication of the students, their advisors, and the extensive support from the Faculty of Technology and the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Khon Kaen University, including personnel, equipment, chemicals, and laboratory access. Furthermore, financial support from Khon Kaen University Demonstration Secondary School, driven by the Science, Technology, and Innovation Project Club since 2023, coupled with policies from the school administrators and cooperation from the students’ parents, enabled the students to successfully achieve these championship titles.
Follow their work at: https://www.facebook.com/SCIENCEPROJECTDSKKU
