Sawaddee, this is ‘Albert,’ one of the Sakura Science 2015 grantees (which could be the very first batches in Thailand). So far, so good. Throughout the 12 years of the Sakura Science Program (SSP) scholarship, I’ve played many parts from grantee to speaker to Thai main-coordinator, and now return to the Alumni participant.

Apart from the impressive exchange program at Kyushu University (Fukuoka) which broadened my horizons in Art and Design Technology. I have made new connections in a variety of science areas, ranging from 3D animation, biology, medicine, robotics, green construction materials, and veterinary.

From a dozen people at the 1st Alumni Meeting in 2017, to an online meeting in 2020 (in response to the Covid epidemic), to an overwhelming 91 participants at the most recent Alumni Meeting in 2026, the ongoing Sakura Science activities are really meaningful for Thai and Japan academic science cooperation. I appreciate the spirit of many former students who come back and support Sakura Science campaigns whenever they get the chance.

During the 2026 Alumni Q&A session, one participant raised an interesting question: ‘How can Thailand help Japan in improving the downturn of its automobile industry?’ In response, I replied to myself, "It shouldn't be just vehicles, or how can Thailand assist Japan?" However, there should be new possibilities for Japan and Thailand to support each other in sharing knowledge and expanding their collaboration on any scientific research initiative (like NEXUS Y-tec).

Lastly, I have one more colorful story to share. It involves "Tae Mongkolkitt," a candidate in the most recent Thai general election (February 2026), who went popular online and became a favorite among teenagers. Despite the absurdity of his campaign promises, such as establishing the Thai space army on Mars or bringing dinosaurs back to life and breeding them for Thai pets. Indeed, it may sound fantasy and funny (and even he himself can’t make it to the parliament). However, he might at least inspire the youth to turn their attention on fields like paleontology and genetics or space technology, which are often overlooked among Thai people. My point is that, I suppose, communication and inspiration are key factors in making science more popular.