ECOSF Contributed to the 8th International Symposium on Science Festival 2024

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Thailand - August 21, 2024: ECOSF participated and contributed to the the 8th International Symposium on Science Festival 2024 was held at, IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Center, Thailand. The international symposium was held as one of the key sideline events of the National Science and Technology Fair 2020 in Thailand. At the beginning, Dr. Rawin Raviwongse, President of National Science Museum (NSM) Thailand delivered his welcoming and opening remarks. He said he and his team aim to turn the NSM into “a place where everyone can discover the wonders of science” and to play a more active role in promoting science literacy in Thailand and other ASEAN countries. 

Then, Dr. Kritsachai Somsaman Director of Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Centre for STEM Education (SEAMEO STEM-ED) presented a key note speech on the importance of promoting STEAM and cultural education for all. 

After the coffee break, a special session was organized by Mr. Kosin Virapornsawan, Managing Director, Plan Toys, Dr. Peeranut Kanhadilok, Director, National Centre for Public Awareness of science, National Science Museum Thailand and Mr. Thanakorn Palachai, Science Communication Specialist, Royal Award for Lifelong Commitment to Excellence in the Communication of Science, Scotland, and Former Vice President of National Science Museum Thailand. They talked about perspectives and experiences of using toys and toy-making to promote STEAM and cultural education for all, and to foster the conservation and distribution of local wisdom and traditional toys for future generation development.

Dr Ganigar Chen, Vice President, National Science Museum Thailand, overview the International Symposium on Science Festival 2024 and introduced ECO Science Foundation (ECOSF) as new NSM’s friend of partnership. She mentioned that both organizations are the members of BRISEC (Belt and Road International Science Education Consortium) and conducted deep cooperation in different programs.

In his speech, Professor Seyed Komail Tayebi, President ECOSF, extended his heartfelt thanks to the NSM for inviting the ECOSF team in order to participate this important event. 

Prof. Tayebi introduced the ECOSF, which is as an intergovernmental organization and a specialized agency of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) based out of Islamabad Pakistan. He added ECOSF is mandated to promote scientific and technological research with an end goal to raise socio-economic standing of 10 Member Countries Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. President ECOSF said that his organization pursues the goal of promoting research and technological development for sustainable development and economic growth in the ECO Region through key areas including: development of human resource capacity for science, technology and innovation and science education in the ECO Region, strengthening institutional capacity in scientific research and technological development among its  members, scientific, technological research collaboration among the Member States as well as exchange of information on S&T research and development through workshops, conference and scientific meetings.

Additionally, Prof. Tayebi talked about collaboration between NSM and ECOSF and said that ECO Science Foundation (ECOSF) and National Science Museum of Thailand (NSM) organized the 1st International Online Workshop on Making STEAM Education Fun with Traditional Toys”

He concluded by stating that ECOSF and NSM plan to strengthen cooperation in various scientific programs in the future.

In a session, led by Ms. Zeinab Sadat Tayebi and Ms. Elaheh Ranai Rad, as the ECOSF Trainers from Iran, presented jointly a title on: “Integration of STEAM Trace in Ancient and Traditional Persian Toys: An Emphasize on Educational Values.” In their presentation, they provided a descriptive and content analysis of various children's toys in ancient Iranian civilization. They raised the questions in which: How did the toys of ancient Iran impact children educationally and developmentally? How does the integration of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) principles in ancient Persian toys trace their educational value and technological sophistication? They addressed that by examining few samples of ancient and traditional Persian toys, we found traces of STEAM Framework indicators, supporting the idea that STEAM principle has been present in traditional toys as long as children can afford them. 

Two ECOSF presenters (Zeinab Sadat Tayebi and Elaheh Rani Rad) concluded that according to the results found in this research, it is suggested that using traditional and ancient Persian toys not only meets the required expectations of STEAM approach learning, but also enriches the ethnical culture of the country. At last, they conveyed their sincere gratitude to NSM and ECOSF for providing them with the chance to attend the event.

Following the session, the speakers from different countries including China, Singapore, Philippines, Laos, South Africa, Thailand and Indonesia presented their talks on promoting creativity and innovation through traditional toys.

The certificates of the symposium were presented to the speakers by Dr. Ganigar Chen, the Vice president of NSM.