2022 Mid-Career Scientist Category Award
A transformative journey to combat childhood obesity
Meet Dr. Supiya Charoensiriwat, a prominent figure leading Thailand's efforts to combat childhood obesity and advocate healthy eating habits. Her pioneering research leverages the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to collect and analyze critical health-related data. A Distinguished Alumnus of University College London, Dr. Supiya is currently Principal Scientist and Head of the Human Behavior Analysis Research Team at the National Center for Electronics and Computer Technology. Her remarkable journey to winning the 2022 Underwriters Laboratories ASEAN Women in Science Award is a testament to her commitment to AI research and is in keeping with the theme of that year's competition. doing.
Revolutionizing child health research
Dr. Spear's research journey began during her doctoral studies and focused on health and pediatric nutrition. Her involvement in the UK Sizing Survey left an indelible mark on the trajectory of her research. Upon her return to Thailand, from 2007 to 2008 she created the groundbreaking “SizeThailand'', in which she collected data from over 13,000 participants using her 3D body scanning technology. I took the lead on the project. This ambitious initiative aimed to create a standardized body size chart to improve product fit for Thai consumers.
The complexity of creating a body size chart led Dr. Spiya and his research team to innovate. They have developed a new swarm intelligence AI algorithm that revolutionizes the process. This breakthrough allows for the creation of more accurate body charts that cover 98% of the population with body sizes of 10 women and 9 men, surpassing all previous methods. I did.
Closing nutritional gaps has cross-border impacts
The impact of SizeThailand's research data extends beyond the fashion industry. Dr. Spear's research revealed that more than a third of Thailand's population is overweight or obese. This important data informed the Ministry of Health's readjustment of the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) for Thais, a crucial step in addressing diet-related disorders. Dr. Spear and her team also collaborate with health and nutrition experts to develop nutrition-related apps such as MyHealth Thai, FoodiEat, and FoodChoice to provide guidance to consumers and collect data for further research. promoted. Dr. Spear's influence extends across borders, as she advised both Malaysian and Philippine size surveys and shared her expertise in creating accurate body size charts.
Dr. Supiya's dedication to pediatric nutrition has expanded to initiatives such as KidDiary, an app designed to monitor children's growth and development, and the School Meals Project in Thailand. Her commitment to closing the nutritional gap between advantaged and disadvantaged children is evident. She emphasized that “It's important to recognize that for some children, school lunches may be their only meal of the day.” Dr. Spiya actively promoted collaboration with local farmers to ensure food safety and access for all school children across Thailand.
Another breakthrough initiative led by Dr. Supiya and his team is REMI, an intelligent chatbot designed to support pregnant women. Packed with obstetrics and gynecology knowledge, his REMI employs natural language processing to enable computers to understand text and spoken language, facilitating valuable dialogue with expectant mothers.
Awards, future initiatives, and guidance
Dr. Spiya was thrust into the spotlight after winning the 2022 Women in Science Award in the mid-career category. Her increased visibility and credibility made it easier for her to obtain new research grants. Dr. Spear acknowledges that her status as an award recipient gives her the credibility of her own research, and she attributes this success to the intersection of her pediatric nutrition and her AI. This motivates us to turn our research into additional funding opportunities to expand our research.
“I still have the same passion to drive new initiatives to improve the quality of life for all children, regardless of their social background. We want to inspire them to come up with new innovations that will make a difference in society in the future.”
Dr. Spear's journey continues with exciting new initiatives centered around food traceability. She works with a dedicated research team in Bangkok to use blockchain technology to verify cross-border trade flows and ensure the safety of food supplies. Additionally, through collaboration with the National Science and Technology Development Authority (NSTDA), Dr. Spear mentors scholarship recipients from high school to doctoral level. candidates in STEM fields. She frequently shares her own insights as a featured speaker and champions the cause of women in STEM issues in her Thailand. Dr. Spear Charoensiriwat is a beacon of inspiration who embodies her impactful fusion of AI, healthcare, and nutrition for the betterment of society.
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In line with the United States' strategic approach to the Indo-Pacific, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) continues its partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This cooperation aims to promote prosperity, security, economic inclusion, women's empowerment and good governance.of Underwriters Laboratories – ASEAN – American Women in Science Awardnow in its ninth year, highlights the valuable contributions of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) research and highlights enduring public-private sector partnerships with ASEAN, USAID, and UL Laboratories doing. Since its inception in 2014, the competition has attracted approximately 400 participants from all 10 ASEAN member countries, reaffirming the importance of women in driving sustainable social improvements through their scientific and technological expertise.
