From Preparation to Gold: iGEM Thailand–RIS 2025
RIS Ruamrudee International School is proud to celebrate the achievements of the iGEM Thailand–RIS Team 2025, whose dedication to scientific research and innovation culminated in a Gold Award at the iGEM Grand Jamboree in Paris. Leading up to the international competition, the team engaged in a series of academic exchanges and presentations that helped shape their work and sharpen their communication on the global stage.
As part of their preparation, RIS was honored to welcome H.E. Mr. Jean-Claude Poimboeuf, Ambassador of France to Thailand, and distinguished members of the French Embassy in Thailand for a special visit on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at the school’s Minburi campus. The visit highlighted student-led innovation in science and technology and marked an important moment of encouragement ahead of the global competition.
Distinguished members of the visiting delegation included:
- H.E. Mr. Jean-Claude Poimboeuf, Ambassador of France
- Mrs. Muriel Schmit, Attaché for Cooperation in the French Language
- Mr. Ludovic Andres, Attaché for Scientific and University Cooperation
- Mr. Théo Dulac, Project Officer for Scientific and University Cooperation (VIA)
- Mrs. Phiraya Phatthanakhuha, Secretary to the Press Attaché
The visit began with a warm welcome and presentation of RIS by Dr. Jim O’Malley, Head of School, followed by an introduction to the school’s campuses and community. The centerpiece of the morning was the presentation by iGEM Thailand–RIS 2025, a team of high school students preparing to represent Thailand on the world stage.
During the session, the students shared their research on engineering a plastic-degrading enzyme (PETase) from a bacterium into plant tissue—developed as a proof of concept to help reduce the environmental impact of microplastics. The delegation engaged actively with the team, asking thoughtful questions and commending the students for their scientific understanding, creativity, and presentation skills.
Following the presentations, Dr. Jim O’Malley expressed his gratitude to the delegation for their visit and for supporting student innovation and cross-cultural collaboration. The meeting concluded with a tour of the secondary school buildings led by iGEM Thailand–RIS 2025 faculty advisors Ms. Nicole Sabet and Mr. Oliver Fernandez, followed by a closing ceremony, gift exchange, and group photographs at the Peace Pole—symbolizing friendship and cooperation between Thailand and France.
From Preparation to International Recognition
Just weeks later, the iGEM Thailand–RIS Team 2025 competed at the iGEM Grand Jamboree in Paris (October 25 – November 2, 2025), joining teams from universities, high schools, and research institutions around the world. The team was awarded Gold, a testament to their scientific rigor, interdisciplinary collaboration, and commitment to addressing real-world challenges through synthetic biology.
The earlier visit from the French Embassy served as a meaningful milestone in the team’s journey—reinforcing the importance of global dialogue, academic exchange, and international partnerships in advancing student research.
The visit and the team’s subsequent success marked an important step toward future collaboration in science and education between RIS and the French Embassy in Thailand, reflecting the school’s ongoing commitment to fostering global partnerships and empowering students to create positive, real-world impact.
About iGEM
The International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition is a worldwide synthetic biology event that challenges student teams to design and build innovative projects addressing real-world problems. Highly interdisciplinary in nature, iGEM encourages collaboration across fields such as biology, engineering, computer science, and environmental studies. Teams from universities, high schools, and community labs use standard molecular biology techniques and interchangeable biological parts to develop solutions in areas including healthcare, sustainability, food security, and energy.
