The wisdom of the Fang people, more than one hundred years old, has given rise to green innovation in chemical analysis, igniting cooperation, sample practical application, and a new study approach – Chemical Analysis Lab at Home through the CMU Online System. The Centre of Excellence for Innovation in Analytical Science and Technology (I-ANALY-S-T) has started to improve the use of natural reagents in chemical analysis. Natural reagents, or substances derived from natural sources, as an alternative in green chemistry has given rise to a project titled, ‘Green Innovation in chemical analysis and local wisdom.’ The vision and objective of this project is to build on local wisdom and come up with modern clean chemical analysis. The project also aims to create and expand the research network for continuous research outputs, in correspondence to several SDG dimensions.
Prof.Dr. Kate Krutphan, Director of I-ANALY-S-T, has been producing local wisdom-based innovation in science and technology for more than 15 years. He is widely recognised both domestically and internationally for his works on natural reagents, with more than 30 pieces published in leading analytical chemistry journals. Such experience and achievements earned Prof.Dr. Kate Krutphan the Outstanding Research Professor Grant from the Thailand Research Fund for the ‘Green Innovation in chemical analysis and local wisdom’ project. This project worked in conjunction with the Cluster of Excellence on Biodiversity-Based Economics and Society (B.BES-CMU) to develop prototypes of ready-to-use natural reagents in 2018. The network has expanded to eight universities in Thailand and overseas: Chiang Mai University, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, University of Phayao, Khon Kaen University, Mae Fah Luang University, Kasetsart University (Sakon Nakhon Campus), the University of Malaya in Malaysia, and Hamburg University of Applied Science in Germany.
The ready-to-use natural reagents were first used in the academic year of 2019 in science and pharmaceutical science courses. They were also used in Lab at Home sessions and E-workshops. The initiative of using modern green chemical analysis in the online classroom setting received great feedback from teachers and learners. The method is now being employed by an increasing number of institutions.
What is remarkable is the fact that not only has this team of CMU researchers conducted their research for academic purposes, but they have also incorporated the experience and knowledge gained in the “new normal” style of teaching. This research team will continue to develop chemical analysis to determine the levels of other substances using a variety of plants and adjust the learning outcomes to each learning context.