{"id":3966,"date":"2026-05-18T05:55:25","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T05:55:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/honeykidsasia.com\/thailand\/?p=3966"},"modified":"2026-05-18T05:55:57","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T05:55:57","slug":"thai-students-win-awards-isef-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/honeykidsasia.com\/thailand\/thai-students-win-awards-isef-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Thai students won 1st place at a global event for their groundbreaking AI-powered malaria diagnostic device"},"content":{"rendered":"

Thai students have made the country proud after bringing home 6 major awards from the prestigious Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair 2026 (ISEF 2026), the world\u2019s largest international science competition for high school students.<\/span><\/p>\n

Leading Thailand\u2019s success this year was The Prince Royal’s College <\/span>in Chiang Mai<\/span>, which secured the 1st Place Grand Award and a US$6,000 prize for developing a low-cost AI-powered malaria diagnosis system designed for remote communities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Held in Phoenix, USA, from 9\u201315 May, the competition gathered more than 1,700 young scientists from over 60 countries, all presenting innovative projects tackling real-world challenges ranging from healthcare and sustainability to artificial intelligence and engineering.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, besides being known for <\/span>beautiful beaches<\/span><\/a> and tourism, the country is also proving that with the right support, Thai students are no less capable than young innovators anywhere else in the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

The big win for Thailand at ISEF 2026<\/b><\/h2>\n
\"\"
Photography: NSM Thailand\/Facebook<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Competing across 22 scientific disciplines against more than 1,700 students from over 60 countries, Thailand secured 6 major awards at Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Grand Champions: 1st Place globally in Biomedical Engineering<\/span><\/h3>\n
\"\"
Photography: NSM Thailand\/Facebook<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Leading Thailand\u2019s historic success this year was a team from The Prince Royal’s College in Chiang Mai, which earned the 1st Place Grand Award in the Biomedical Engineering category along with a USD $6,000 prize.<\/span><\/p>\n

Students Natdanai Suksri, Nattaphong Thaworn and Poomjai Pongsriwat impressed judges with their project titled <\/span>Low-cost Automated Malaria Diagnosis System using Artificial Intelligence and Smart Microscopy for Remote Areas<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The team developed a portable AI-powered diagnostic platform capable of rapidly detecting all 5 major strains of malaria using smart microscopy technology.<\/span><\/p>\n

Designed specifically for rural and hard-to-access communities, the low-cost innovation significantly reduces diagnosis time while improving accessibility to accurate malaria screening in remote regions.<\/span><\/p>\n

More award-winning innovations from Thai students<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"\"
Photography: NSM Thailand\/Facebook<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Prince Royal’s College also secured a 2nd Place Grand Award in the Translational Medical Science category along with a USD $2,400 prize.<\/span><\/p>\n

Students Daichi Tanaka, Pongkhun Fuchuen and Carl <\/span>Tidtijumreonpon<\/span> were recognised for developing an AI-assisted cervical cancer lesion screening system designed to make early diagnosis more accessible, auditable and scalable for wider healthcare use.<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Bangkok Christian College earned a 2nd Place Grand Award in the Animal Sciences category with a USD $2,400 prize.<\/span><\/p>\n

Students Sanphat Akarajeerawat, Naphoodol Srirattana and Proadpran Janthanrabhathak developed an integrated coral reef restoration innovation combining molecular-level coral repair techniques with satellite-tracked artificial reefs to improve marine ecosystem recovery and long-term monitoring.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)?<\/b><\/h2>\n
\"\"
Photography: Regeneron\/Facebook<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Founded in 1950, the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) is widely recognised as the world\u2019s largest and most prestigious pre-college STEM competition.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the 2026 competition, more than 1,700 young innovators from around the globe competed for over US$7 million in prizes and scholarships.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Finalists showcased ground-breaking research across 22 scientific disciplines, spanning cutting-edge medicine, environmental science, robotics, mathematics, and artificial intelligence.<\/span><\/p>\n

The 2026 overall top honor, the prestigious George D. Yancopoulos Innovator Award, went to a 17-year-old student from Japan, <\/span>Hikaru Kuribayashi (pictured in the middle) <\/span>who was celebrated for developing an advanced simulation program that predicts complex material-folding systems inspired by origami engineering, offering potential breakthroughs for space exploration and medical devices.<\/span><\/p>\n

Special Awards and international recognition<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"\"
Photography: NSM Thailand\/Facebook<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Thai students also secured 3 Special Awards, including scholarships and international recognition.<\/span><\/p>\n