On August 18, Chargé d’Affaires Peter Haymond joined the opening ceremony for the 2017 National Science and Technology Fair, which takes place August 17 to 27 at the IMPACT Exhibition Center. The Science Fair is an annual event organized by the National Science Museum that draws more than a million visitors, including schoolchildren from almost every province of Thailand. Following the ceremony, the Chargé welcomed the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Atchaka Sibunruang, to the space-themed exhibits of the U.S. Pavilion:
- An exhibit recounting the prediction of a solar eclipse by King Mongkut (Rama IV) in 1868.
- A series of exhibits on the “Great American Eclipse” taking place August 21 during the Science Fair.
- An exhibit highlighting SERVIR—Mekong, a geospatial program used to strengthen regional environmental monitoring in the Mekong region.
- A photo booth against a space-themed backdrop in which attendees receive a photo and can download to their phone using Line.