6 January 2026, the Institute of Science at Suranaree University of Technology (SUT) hosted the final round of the 28th Young Scientist Competition (YSC 2026) for the Northeastern region. SUT served as the competition coordination centre under the supervision of the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI).
Forty-five teams from 12 schools across five provinces, each of which received a 3,000 Baht grant to develop their projects, were selected for the regional finals. From this pool, nine winning teams were selected across eight main categories to advance to the national level. The 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 competition took place at Surasammanaakarn Building, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, from 5–6 January 2026.
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
