Assistant Professor Narin Chomphuphuang of the Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University (KKU), has achieved national recognition by winning a prestigious award at the Thailand Talent Summit 2025. The summit, an annual conference for high-potential Thai personnel, was organised by the Office of National Higher Education Science, Research and Innovation Policy Council (NXPO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI). The event took place from 11–13 December 2025 at the Peach International Convention Centre (PEACH), Pattaya, Chonburi Province.
The Thailand Talent Summit 2025 was held under the concept, “Fostering Thailand Future: Advancing Innovation and National Impact,” serving as a central platform to present research and innovation with the potential to create significant national developmental impact. Over 2,100 researchers from across the country participated in the presentations.
On this occasion, Assistant Professor Narin Chomphuphuang, an academic member of the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University, was honoured with the Outstanding Oral Presentation Award. This is the highest distinction in the Biological Sciences category.
The winning presentation was titled “Jewel of the forest: The discovery, unique biology, and conservation of Thailand’s electric-blue tarantula.” The research focuses on the discovery of a new species of tarantula, Chilobrachys natanicharum, known as the “Electric-Blue Tarantula,” found in the mangrove forests of Thailand.
The award was presented by Professor Emeritus Dr. M.D. Siriruek Songsivilai, Chairman of the Science, Research and Innovation Promotion Committee, and Professor Dr. Sompong Klaynongsruang, Director of NXPO.
Assistant Professor Chomphuphuang stated, “This research is not merely the discovery of a new taxonomic species; it has also created a global viral phenomenon. The electric-blue luminescence observed on the tarantula is an extremely rare natural phenomenon, which results from the nanostructures of its hairs, not from conventional pigments.”
Furthermore, the presentation highlighted the species’ “unique biology and conservation,” underscoring the importance of protecting the mangrove and rainforest ecosystems that constitute the species’ threatened habitat. This reflects the urgent necessity for the conservation of Thailand’s biodiversity.
The discovery of the Electric-Blue Tarantula has attracted global attention from over 143 news agencies and was ranked No. 1 in the “Top 10 New Species of 2023” list compiled by Pensoft Publishers, selected from over 100 new species discoveries worldwide. This success clearly reflects the potential of Thai research on the international stage and reaffirms Khon Kaen University’s role in generating new knowledge while fostering a positive impact on society, the environment, and the sustainable preservation of natural resources, aligning with the University’s strategy to become a world-leading research institution.
