What if I told you this Faculty of Science started as a humble Pre-medical School? Today we are standing in front of the Faculty of Science, Mahidol University. It is a key institution for scientific advancement in Thailand.
Let me tell you a bit about its history. Professor Dr. Stang Mongkolsuk founded it in 1958. It was initially a Pre-medical School. In 1969, it officially became the Faculty of Science, Mahidol University.
The Faculty of Science is on Rama VI Road in Bangkok. It has twelve departments. These include Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Biology. Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Mathematics are also included. Microbiology, Pathobiology, and Pharmacology round out the list. Also Physics, Physiology, and Plant Science make twelve.
Currently the Dean of the Faculty of Science is Prasit Suwannalert.
The Faculty of Science plays a vital role. It teaches science to first-year undergraduates. Around 4,000 students benefit each year. The Salaya Campus also hosts facilities. The faculty helps teach second-year students. These students are in allied health sciences and medicine.
The Faculty of Science offers various B.Sc. programs. There are twelve disciplines to choose from. These include Chemistry, Biology, and Biotechnology. Mathematics, Plant Science, and Physics are also options. Actuarial Science and Biomedical Science are available too. Bioresources, Environmental Biology, and Industrial Mathematics exist. Data Science, Materials Science, and Nanoengineering add to the choices. Bioinnovation completes the list. About 500 students enroll in these programs annually.
The Faculty of Science has strong international graduate programs. There are 19 Master’s level programs. Also there are 18 Ph.D. programs available. Around 300 students pursue Master’s degrees. About 275 students are at the Ph.D. level.
Research is a major focus at the Faculty of Science. It is part of the graduate programs’ thesis work. It is also an ongoing commitment. The goal is international scientific advancement. Another goal is national development. This emphasis creates an excellent academic atmosphere. Staff successfully compete for grants. They perform high-quality work.
Faculty staff have won awards for outstanding research. These awards are national, regional, and international. They also perform administrative and advisory roles. This happens in various academic organizations. These organizations are at national, regional, and international levels.
The Faculty of Science has a large staff. It has 624 people working here. There are 289 academic staff members. 283 of them have doctoral degrees. There are 3 teaching assistants. There are 261 supporting staff members. Finally there are 71 employees.
The Faculty of Science is responsible for many students. It teaches around 2,472 undergraduate students. 301 Master’s students and 275 Doctoral students also attend. The faculty offers courses in Basic Sciences and English. This is for all first-year undergraduates. It also extends to second-year students in some faculties. This amounts to another 4,182 students.
The Faculty also teaches preclinical science subjects. These are for medical students.
The Faculty of Science drives scientific discovery in Thailand. Research and graduate studies are major strengths.
Research standards here are internationally recognized. They are at the cutting edge of scientific discovery. The faculty publishes over 500 peer-reviewed papers each year. More than half appear in top-tier journals.
The Faculty of Science faces challenges. University autonomy is an important one. Thailand must compete globally. This requires science and technology. It needs both new knowledge and new products.
The Faculty of Science embraces this challenge. It prepares its infrastructure. It improves staff quality. The goal is academic excellence. This benefits both the country and mankind. It truly is a remarkable place of learning and discovery.