Dr. Kalaya Sophonpanich Wins Distinguished Alumni Award 2026 from Imperial College London

Bangkok – On January 28, 2026, Imperial College London, a world-leading institution in science and technology, announced the Distinguished Alumni Award for 2026 to Dr. Kalaya Sophonpanich. The award celebrates her ongoing success in using scientific and technological knowledge to create concrete and sustainable impacts on Thai society. The Imperial College Alumni Association of Thailand organized the BLUE PRESTIGE: THE DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI GALA to honor Dr. Kalaya, held at The Clyston Box, 19th floor of Gaysorn Urban Resort on January 28, 2026. The event was attended by numerous Imperial College London alumni who came to congratulate her. The award recognizes Dr. Kalaya as a "field transformer" who has paved the way in multiple dimensions. She was the first Thai woman in high-energy nuclear physics and played a leading role in establishing the country's digital technology foundations by co-founding NECTEC and driving forward future educational policies like "Coding for All". Imperial College London's citation noted that Dr. Kalaya is an inspirational leader who never gives up, creating opportunities for change, particularly in science, education, and environmental fields. Parsha Roengpitaya, a representative from the Imperial College Alumni Association of Thailand, highlighted Dr. Kalaya's remarkable journey from a child in the rural Isaan region to earning a PhD in Nuclear Physics from Imperial College in the 1970s. He emphasized her ministerial roles in presenting educational policies to develop Thai education quality. Dr. Kalaya was recognized for her concrete achievements that have led to national-level changes over more than 40 years. This includes co-founding the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC) in 1986, which accelerated and promoted technology to establish computer and digital systems in Thailand. Her "Coding for All" policy as a Deputy Minister of Education focused on "Unplugged Coding", emphasizing logical thinking, problem-solving, and organizing thoughts to create 21st-century skills for youth.