astronomy

Shaiwatna Kupratakul

Shaiwatna Kupratakul is a astronomy topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Shaiwatna Kupratakul rather than just read about it. In short: Shaiwatna Kupratakul (Thai: ชัยวัฒน์ คุประตกุล, RTGS: Chaiwat Khupratakun; born 20 September 1940) is a Thai theoretical physicist. He is a scientist, educator, writer, translator, columnist, science communicator, producer and host of radio and television programmes.

Key takeaways

Shaiwatna Kupratakul belongs to astronomy; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Shaiwatna Kupratakul to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Shaiwatna Kupratakul from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Shaiwatna Kupratakul (Thai: ชัยวัฒน์ คุประตกุล, RTGS: Chaiwat Khupratakun; born 20 September 1940) is a Thai theoretical physicist. He is a scientist, educator, writer, translator, columnist, science communicator, producer and host of radio and television programmes. He focuses on science communication and the popularization of science through writing, radio and television media and public speaking. Kupratakul was nominated twice for the UNESCO Kalinga Prize in 1981 and 2004.

Biography Kupratakul was born to Sheng Hiang, an herb doctor, and Siew Tiang, in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, on 20 September 1940. He received his primary education (Prathom 1-Prathom 6, 1949–1953) at Tesbaln 1 School (Boorapa Vidhakorn) and his secondary education (Mathayom 1-Mathayom 8, 1953–1961) at Ratchasima Vidhyalai School, both in Nakhon Ratchasima. He attended Chulalongkorn University at the Faculty of Science for one-and-a-half years, from 1961–1962. In 1962, Kupratakul won a Columbo Plan scholarship, from the Australian Government, to study physics in Australia. He graduated with a BSc (Honours) in Physics from Monash University in 1966, and a PhD (Physics), also from Monash University, in 1970. Since returning to Thailand, Kupratakul has worked as a lecturer, university administrator, and educational development project committee member or leader. He has also written non-fiction and fiction works with the aim of educating people in the area of science. He met Isaac Asimov in New York in November 1977, and Arthur C. Clarke at Colombo, Sri Lanka, in February 1980. In 1977, Kupratakul visited Princeton, Albert Einstein's last residence. His science writing is inspired by Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, Jules Verne, H.C. Wells and Juntri Siriboonrod (จันตรี ศิริบุญรอด); the last of whom was proclaimed "Father of Thai Science Fiction." Kupratakul worked in the Department of Physics, first at Khon Kaen University from 1970–1982, and then at Srinakharinwirot University (Prasarnmit) from 1982–1999. He retired in 1999, but continues to give talks at universities, schools and for the public. He also write articles and science fiction (both short science stories and science novels), hosts radio and television programmes, and serves as a committee member of several academic and national Councils. Kupratakul married Shusri Chulusthira in 1968. They have a son (Juckrich) and a daughter (Chollada). He remarried Sansiri Chairat in 1999.

Administrative duties Kupratakul's administrative duties have included:

Head of Department of Physics, Khon Kaen University, during 1970–1976 and 1978–1982. Assistant Dean of Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University, during 1974–1978. Head of Department of Physics, Srinakharinwirot (Prasammit), during 1983–1985. Assistant Dean of Faculty of Science, Srinakharinwiot University, during 1983–1985.

Professional appointments and activities Kupratakul has also participated in the following activities:

Assistant Professor of Physics, during 1974–1981 Associate Professor of Physics, since 1981. Executive committee member, Asian Physical Society, (APSO), 1979. Vice-President, Asian Science Communicators Organization, (ASCO), 1980. Member, the Science Society of Thailand, since 1972. Member, the Writers’ Association of Thailand, since 1976. Member, P.E.N. International Thailand Center, since 1976. Chairman, Science Writers’ and Publishers’ Group of Thailand, 1984. Executive board member, National Research Council of Thailand, since 2003. Chairman, Physical Science and Mathematical Branch, the Office of the National Research Council of Thailand, since 2003. Committee member, Academic University Council, Rajabhat University Nakhon Ratchasima, 2005–2008.

Publication Kupratakul wrote, edited, and translated in a variety of formats including articles, essays, short stories, novels and textbooks. He wrote on both science and non-science subjects for audiences of all ages. More than 100 books, written or translated, have been published. Kupratakul has also published under the pen names of Shaikupt, Tachyon, Watanachai, and Sriwat.

Radio and television Kupratakul has hosted, produced, or served as commentator for several radio programmes, in Khon Kaen (1970–1982) and in Bangkok (since 1982). These programmes were usually focused on science communication and involved direct interaction with audiences. Examples of the radio programs are: Science and You (วิทยาศาสตร์และท่าน), Life and Universe (ชีวิตกับจักรวาล), Life and Science (ชีวิตกับวิทยาศาสตร์), Colorful Life With Science (สีสันชีวิตกับวิทยาศาสตร์), Scientific Wisdom (ภูมิปัญญากับวิทยาศาสตร์), For the Future (สาระเพื่ออนาคต). On television, Kupratakul has hosted, co-hosted, or produced programmes at Khon Kaen national television station (Channel 5 Khon Kaen), 1970–1982, and in Bangkok starting in 1982.. These television appearances are also focused on communicating and popularizing science to the general public. Examples of the television programmes hosted by Kupratakul are: Science And You (วิทยาศาสตร์และท่าน), Keeping Up With World Progress (ทันโลกก้าวหน้า), Science And Life Update (ทันโลก ทันชีวิต), The Path Of The Future (วิถีอนาคต).

Research fields Kupatakul's major research interests are the energy band structures of noble metals, the pressure effects of noble metals on the energy of band structures, and solar energy. His Ph.D. thesis was titled, "The Electron Band Structures Calculation of Gold By The APW Method". His Ph.D. research was published in 1969–1970 (see external links).

Awards and prizes Kupatakul has received the following awards and prizes:

Outstanding Science Communicator Award for the year 1995 from the Science Society of Thailand Under the Patronage of His Majesty the King. “Surintaraja” Award for the year 2009 from the Translators and Interpreters Association of Thailand (TIAT). An award for outstanding senior translator. The book “Immortal Life” (ชีวิตอมตะ), winner of two consolation prizes for non-fiction book for young readers, National Book Fair (Thailand) and The National Youth Bureau (Thailand), both in 1982. The book “Laser” (เลเซอร์) winner of a consolation prize for non-fiction book for young readers, National Book Fair (Thailand), 1986. The book “Amazing Space” (อวกาศมหัศจรรย์), winner of a consolation prize for illustrated book for children, National Book Fair (Thailand), 1997. The book “Project X” (โปรเจกต์เอกซ์), winner of a consolation prize for novel, National Book Fair (Thailand), 2003.

… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Shaiwatna Kupratakul

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Shaiwatna Kupratakul claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In astronomy, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Shaiwatna Kupratakul before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Shaiwatna Kupratakul ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Shaiwatna Kupratakul

In research: Shaiwatna Kupratakul appears in astronomy research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Shaiwatna Kupratakul in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Shaiwatna Kupratakul is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 1940 births, Academic staff of Khon Kaen University, Academic staff of Srinakharinwirot University, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Shaiwatna Kupratakul outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Shaiwatna Kupratakul in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Shaiwatna Kupratakul means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Shaiwatna Kupratakul out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Shaiwatna Kupratakul in simple terms?

Why does Shaiwatna Kupratakul matter?

Because it connects several astronomy ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Shaiwatna Kupratakul?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Shaiwatna Kupratakul.