The project is based on the concept of science-on-the-move, to develop mobile science classrooms and allow children and adults to learn science and perform experiments.

The project received Bt48 million for the first year. About Bt40 million was allocated to build two mobile units, which will be a science learning centre for every community. The rest of the funds will be used for the project's operation.

Pichai Sonchaeng, president of the National Science Museum Organisation, said these mobile units would be equipped with experiment tool kits and scientific educational material. The vehicles will go all over the country and allow people to participate in scientific experiments.

Operations will begin in October. Each unit, he said, would move to an allotted area. In the first stage, the organisation plans to begin the project in provinces in the north and north-eastern parts of the country.

Before going around each community, the president said the organisation would have to talk to the people, so studying the nature of each community and their needs is important. "Then we will be able to prepare suitable content that matches their needs and gives them maximum benefits when they apply the technology to their daily lives," he said.

To make the project more effective, the organisation will also work with educational centres in the province. The organisation wants the two units to travel 200 days a year, stopping at each place for three to five days.

This project, Picahi said, is expected to appeal to the local people and make science easier to understand.

In addition, as the operator of the country's science museum, Pichai said the organisation is encouraging each province to set up its own science museum to be a learning centre for the community. The organisation will help the province set up the museum and provide consultation.

"The provincial science museum will not be the same as our science museum in Bangkok as technology or scientific knowledge shown in the museums should serve the local people and influence their way of life. The museums in different provinces will have their own characteristics," he said.

Several provinces have shown interest in having their own science museum. Those include Sing Buri, Chanthaburi, Khon Kaen and Udon Thani.

"We will help each province to explore what they want to highlight and display it with the backup of scientific knowledge," he said.

For example, in Sing Buri where the striped snake-head fish is well known, Pichai said, the science museum could exhibit the fish to show scientifically why the fish from this area are more tasty than those from other areas. In some provinces, the development of rice varieties can be on display along with technology.

In the first phase, the organisation plans to encourage regional educational centres to establish the provincial science museum and then it hopes that a museum will eventually be built in every school.

Pongpen Sutharoj

The Nation