Thailand’s oceans are among the most diverse in the world, yet much of their story remains untold. While coral reefs often steal the spotlight, the true picture of marine biodiversity is far more complex—and far less understood. Dr. Rahul Mehrotra, alumnus of Chulalongkorn University and Research Director at the Aow Thai Marine Ecology Center (ATMEC), is rewriting what we thought we knew about Thailand’s oceans.

The success of the “Rugose Frog Farming Project” under the ongoing efforts of the Center of Learning Network for the Region of Chulalongkorn University has gone beyond just promoting careers and generating income for farmers. A particularly proud achievement has emerged in Sa Nian Subdistrict, Nan Province, where frogs raised through the project have grown rapidly and reached substantial sizes. After only 3–4 months of farming, some frogs reached weights of up to 800 grams (1.76 pounds) – the largest and most robust ever recorded in the area. This result has greatly boosted the pride of residents and farmers in Nan Province. 

Amid growing concerns over waste and climate change, Pinrat Pinweha, a Ph.D. student in Chulalongkorn University’s Technopreneurship and Innovation Management Program (CU TIP), has pioneered an innovative solution by creating “synthetic leather from coffee grounds.” By combining discarded coffee waste with Thai natural rubber, her eco-friendly innovation offers a sustainable alternative to traditional animal and plastic-based leathers, significantly reducing carbon emissions. The project, which recently earned a silver medal and a special award at the 50th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva 2024, exemplifies how Thailand’s local resources and creativity can contribute to a circular and low-carbon economy for a greener future. 

For the first time in Thailand, the BALAC Program at Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University, now features a course titled “Dracula and Modern Culture” where students can connect interdisciplinary arts in their analysis of Gothic literature to better understand modern culture. The Program draws over 300 applicants each year, with only 120 accepted.

Anatomy instructors at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, have developed Zero Formalin (ZF)—a formalin-free animal specimen preservation solution—to create safer classrooms and reduce health risks for students and staff. The solution is now used for all animal bodies in anatomy classes. 

Across the Asia-Pacific, millions of girls face barriers that limit their potential — and change cannot wait. Dr. Christina Warning, a distinguished alumna of Chulalongkorn University and Asia-Pacific Team Leader for Plan International in Germany, has dedicated her career to one mission: amplifying “the woman’s voice, the girl’s voice.”

A student team from Nutrinex, Department of Food Technology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, has developed “Pork Knuckle Trio”—a nutritious alternative to traditional braised pork leg.  Designed for the elderly, the product is high in protein but low in sodium, fat, and sugar. The product won Second Runner-up in the FoSTAT Food Innovation Contest 2025, a national-level food product innovation competition, under the theme “Food Innovation for the Silver Generation.” 

A lecturer at the Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, has discovered teeth fossils of hyenas, orangutans, and several other mammals, aged between 200,000 – 100,000 years in a cave in Krabi. These form an important piece of evidence indicating that the South of Thailand was once large grasslands mixed with forests during the Ice Age and may have been a migration route for Homo erectus moving from Africa to the Java islands. 

The Center of Excellence in Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, has launched one of the world’s first projects to perform long-read whole genome sequencing in newborns. The initiative screens for 113 genetic diseases, with the goal of early prevention and treatment, opening a new frontier in precision medicine and improving lifelong health outcomes. 

A lecturer from the Department of Chemical Technology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, has invented the MICROCAP air purifier, which uses photosynthetic algae to absorb carbon dioxide and produce 20 times more oxygen than trees.