Thai science on show in Vienna

The International Atomic Energy Agency invited Thailand to be represented in its exhibition “Water Matters: Making a Difference with Nuclear Techniques” in Vienna in September.
When it comes to “nuclear”, most people think of electricity or weapons, but in fact nuclear energy also has many uses in agriculture, water management, industry and public health.
Thailand uses the technology with the support of various government agencies, particularly the Office of Atoms for Peace, the Institute for Nuclear Technology and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Radioactive isotopes aid in tracking groundwater flow rate and patterns and in determining the source, how fast it can be replenished and any forms of contamination.
These techniques are useful in the production of quality drinking water, as well as alcoholic drinks that require specific mineral resources or above-average cleanliness.
Radiation is further used in pest control, through sterilisation, and in testing soil quality and modifying plants. This last use is different from genetic modification because it doesn’t alter the genes, instead accelerating the natural genetic process to make the plants, for example, more resistant to drought.
In this way nuclear technology allows farmers to be more adaptable to climate change.
And when the agricultural products are processed, nuclear techniques are used to “clean” the food for the purpose of preservation, such as fermented pork. Such methods are 100 per cent safe, accepted by all countries, and encouraged by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation.
In Vienna on July 29 the Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry and International Atomic Energy Agency hosted a seminar about how Thailand uses nuclear science in the food and agricultural industry and for the treatment of cancer.
On hand were the agency’s deputy director-general Mohamad Daud, Foreign Affairs deputy permanent secretary Chitriya Pinthong and Ambassador Nongnuth Phetcharatana. The discussion was well received by 120 delegates from government agencies and universities.