ABOUT ME
A science internship gave me the tools. Watching Thai farmers lose their crops to a threat they couldn't see gave me the reason.
That's how AquaSense began: a real-time salinity warning system that alerts farmers before saltwater turns severe enough to destroy their harvest.
It's since earned recognition at AYSIC 2026 and IYEC 2026 — gold and a scholarship. But what I'm proudest of isn't the medals. It's knowing it actually helps Thai farmers. This is only the beginning.
Core Value
The core values I've gained from various activities and projects are as follows:
Passion
Turning curiosity into action, one community at a time
Ambition
Never stop learning
Never stop growing
Scientific
Exploration
Every question is an invitation to discover something new
APFSD
Youth Forum 2026
Speaker
Thames represented young innovators as a speaker at the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) 2026 Youth Segment, a high-level UN ESCAP regional forum focused on SDG progress.
IYEC 2026
Global Senior 2nd Place + Scholarship Award
AquaSense was awarded 2nd place
(Global Senior category) at the International Young Eco-Challenger (IYEC) 2026 competition, including a Scholarship Award.
AYSIC 2026
Gold Award
Thames won Gold Award at the Asian Young Scientist Innovation Competition (AYSIC) 2026, representing Singapore (Tanglin Trust School).
Award Recognition
Recognized across Asia for science,
innovation, and sustainability.
RESUME
PROFILE
Rochana Sirivadhanabhakdi is a student researcher at Shrewsbury International School, Bangkok, developing practical technologies for sustainable agriculture. He leads AquaSense, an affordable water quality monitoring system that helps rice farmers monitor irrigation water in real time and make informed decisions. His work combines chemistry, engineering, field research, and data analysis to address real world agricultural challenges for Thailand’s lower Chao Phraya Basin.
INVITED SPEAKING
Dongtan Software Day (THAICID-NWIKS 2026) | scheduled for 9 July 2026
Presentation: “AquaSense: Water Quality Monitoring for Rice Farming Communities”
APFSD Youth Forum 2026 (Abstract Presenter) | 19 February 2026
Presentation: “AquaSense: Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring and the Impact of Irrigation Water Salinity on Rice Growth in Thailand’s Chao Phraya Basin”
THAICID Special Academic Session (19th National Conference Follow-up) | 13 August 2026 Presentation: "AquaSense: Water Quality Monitoring for Rice Farming Communities"
PROJECTS & RESEARCH
Project “AquaSense” Lead Developer & Researcher | August 2025 – Present
Developed AquaSense, an affordable water quality monitoring and AI-assisted decision-support system to help rice farmers make informed irrigation decisions. Through laboratory experiments and field trials in Thailand, demonstrated that elevated irrigation-water TDS reduced rice growth and grain yield, supporting water-quality monitoring as an effective early warning tool and laying the foundation for wider adoption across Thailand and Southeast Asia.
Independent Research Project (Chemistry) | September 2025 – Present
Investigating how irrigation-water quality influences nutrient uptake and rice productivity using laboratory experiments and statistical modelling.
SELECTED RESEARCH OUTPUT
Sirivadhanabhakdi, R. & Bhaktikul, K. (2026).
Effect of Irrigation-Water Total Dissolved Solids on Establishment, Vegetative Growth, and Grain Yield of Rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. RD41) under Field Conditions in the Chao Phraya Basin, Thailand. Research manuscript / field pilot report.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Global Youth Chemistry Elite Competition 2026 (Top Champion); IYEC 2026 (Global 2nd Place); AYSIC 2026 (Gold Award); Genius Olympiad 2025 (Finalist); NeoScience Olympiad (Bronze Medal); UKMT Junior Mathematical Challenge (Silver 2023, Gold 2022)
INTERESTS
Chemical engineering, materials science, water quality monitoring, agricultural sustainability, clean water challenges