COUNTRY REPORT FROM THAILAND
Present status on Human Resource Development in Nuclear Field
Warapon Wanitsuksombut
Office of Atoms for Peace, Thailand
Introduction
The status on human resource development in nuclear field is depending on
the demand on the usage of nuclear application. There are three big groups using
radiation and radioisotopes in Thailand; users in medical applications, users in.
industrial applications and users in research applications. Since nuclear power is notplanned in near future, human resource in this application is limited. Humanresource of medical profession in nuclear field is recognized to be necessary for thesafety in medical exposure control. While human resources in radiation safety is thekey for occupation control in industry and research. The important of humanresource in research and development in nuclear application and reactor utilization
are also recognized. The structure of Bureau of Atomic Energy Administration isbuilt to support the activity.
Qualified Personnel is the key for Safety in Medical Exposure Control
It is realized long time ago that persons are the most important part of anyservice. Especially the service in medical practice, quality control of machine, drugsand the most important one is personnel in medical professional must be qualified.
In nuclear field, medical physician applying radiation and radioisotopes to patientmust have special qualification, as well as other related professional such as medical
physicist, and radiologist.
Thailand has required authorized medical doctor in the licensing process to
use radiation and radioisotopes in medical diagnostic and treatment. It is also
required to have a radiation safety officer and qualified experts either medical
physicist or radiologist. Medical societies in nuclear field has been established asshown in table 1. Those societies and academic institute play a strong role inbuilding and supporting human resources in this field.
Radiation Safety Officer Qualification
Radiation safety officer qualification has recently announced in theradiation safety regulation. Thailand has conducted radiation protection courses fortens years. But the qualification theme has not been established yet. Models of othercountries are studied in order to choose suitable model for Thailand. The
qualification will be launch as soon as possible and projected to be fulfill in 5 years.
Organization re-structured in the passed few years
Thailand has overall governmental organization re-structured in the passedfew years. Office of Atomic Energy for Peace is also experience some change. Not
only the name changed to Office of Atoms for Peace, but internal structure is alsochanged. OAP will be separated into two parts; OAP and an Institute for Nuclear
Technology. OAP consists of 5 units; Office of Secretary, Bureau of Atomic Energy
Administration, Bureau of Radiation Safety Regulation, Bureau of Nuclear SafetyRegulation and Bureau of Technical Support for Safety Control. The part of OAP
which will be separated to nuclear institute consists of the Radioactive Waste

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Management Program, the Radioisotope Production Program, the Reactor andNuclear Technology Operation Program, the Radiation and Nuclear Protection
Program, the Irradiation Research for Agriculture Program, the Chemistry Researchand Material Science Program and the Physics and Advanced Technology Research
Program.
Status of Academic Courses in Nuclear
Nuclear Science has been included in curriculum of science study in every
universities and colleges. In some universities the special subjects in nuclear areincluded and graduate courses are offered for example Physics, Chemistry, MedicalPhysics, Nuclear Technology, Environmental Science, Radiation Technology, etc.
More intensive survey must be conducted in order to achieve valuable data forhuman resource development plan.
Nuclear Education for Young Generation
Young generation is recognized as the future of our country. There is effort tocooperate nuclear subject in the learning material of primary, secondary and highschools. OAP has cooperated and supplied information relating nuclear to units fordeveloping the learning material.
OAP also tries to catch the interesting of young group by conducting Nuclear
science camp for secondary school and high school students. The program firststarted in Nakhon Nayok area (the new research reactor base) since 1998. As theprogram earned excellent feedback from students and teachers, so it is continued andexpanded to other area as requested.
OAP also participates in the events arranging for special occasion; Scienceday, Youth day, etc. The program is ranging from the exhibition to the nuclear
science camp.
Table 1 Academic Associations and Societies in the Nuclear Field in Thailand
Academic Associationsand Societies

EstablishedYearNuclear Society of Thailand
Thai Society for Nondestructive testingThai Medical Physicist
Society
Nuclear Medicine Society ofThailand
Radiation Oncologist
Society of Thailand
Medical Radiology Societyof Thailand

1994

Number ofRegular
Members
600

Number ofStudent
Members

1991

3030

1975

100100

1985

170

170

Total600