Thursday 5 July 2012

Astro Park to Be Established in Thailand

Thailand's  Ministry of Science and Technology will build an astronomical park, referred to as Astro Park, to serve as a center for astronomy in the ASEAN region.

The construction project will be carried out in two phases. The first phase, from 2013 to 2015, involves a budget of 203.5 million baht. The second phase, with a budget of 202.6 million baht, will be implemented from 2014 to 2016.

According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Astro Park is a flagship project in the road map of the National Astronomical Research Institute, which aims to develop itself as a center for astronomy in Southeast Asia and to foster cooperation in the field of astronomy with various countries in the ASEAN region.

The effort is in line with the Ministry of Science and Technology’s policy in using science and technology to shape the future of Thailand and develop the country into a knowledge-based society. Another objective is to promote investment in research and development, so that it will reach two percent of the gross domestic product.

The Astro Park will provide information about astronomy and serve as a coordinating center between the National Observatory and the six public observatories across the country. It will link with the Cerro Tololo International Observatory in Chile under cooperation with North Carolina University. The park will also work with its international links in China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea.

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