Thammasat Academic Becomes First in Thailand and ASEAN to be Named ‘People of ACM 2025’, Bridging the Digital Divide with Supercomputing

2 Dec, 2025
04, 09, 10, 17, Outreach, Research & Innovation

HIGHLIGHTS

First ASEAN Representative Named “People of ACM 2025”: Asst. Prof. Dr Worawan Diaz Carballo becomes the first person from Thailand and ASEAN to receive this global recognition from the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM).
Democratising Supercomputing for Communities: Leading the “HPC Ignite” project, she expanded access to high-performance computing beyond academic institutions, upskilling 373 participants across four northern provinces.
Driving Social Innovation & Reducing Inequality: The programme produced 11 community-driven innovation projects, including Hmong language translation tools and the development of herbal asthma relief products.
Inclusive Digital Learning Platform with Global Impact: The team created a mobile-accessible learning platform adopted by the ACM HPC Summer School, enhancing equitable access to technology education worldwide.

Thammasat University has once again secured its place on the international stage with a remarkable academic achievement that reflects both national pride and regional progress. Asst. Prof. Dr Worawan Diaz Carballo (Marereongsit), a lecturer at the Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Thammasat University (Lampang Centre), has been selected by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) — the world’s largest and most influential educational and scientific computing society — as one of the “People of ACM” for 2025.

This prestigious recognition marks a historic milestone, as she becomes the first individual from Thailand and the ASEAN region to be honoured in this category. Her selection highlights her outstanding contributions as a visionary leader in the future of global computing, particularly through her commitment to applying advanced technologies to create tangible social impact.

A Driving Force Behind Inclusive Technological Development

More than a personal achievement, this recognition reflects years of dedicated work bridging the gap between complex computing systems and community-level problem-solving. Dr Worawan has consistently championed the idea that cutting-edge technology should not be confined to elite institutions, but should instead be accessible to people from all sectors, especially those in underserved or remote areas.

Connecting Tech Power to Local Solutions

A key factor behind Dr Worawan’s selection was her leadership of the groundbreaking “HPC Ignite” project (Ecosystem for High-Performance Computing Workforce Development). The initiative was created to democratise access to high-performance computing (HPC) — or “supercomputers” — which are typically available only to advanced research communities.

Through extensive training activities and community engagement, the project enabled 373 participants to be upskilled across four northern provinces — Lampang, Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son, and Lamphun

Participants were empowered to apply HPC knowledge to real local challenges, strengthening regional innovation capacity and advancing inclusive digital transformation.

Social Innovation and Bridging the Equality Gap

The project resulted in 11 community-driven social innovation projects, demonstrating how advanced technology can generate meaningful benefits for society.

Notable examples include:

development of Hmong language translation software to support ethnic communication and service access
transformation of traditional herbal medicine into an asthma relief spray, integrating indigenous knowledge with scientific innovation

These initiatives showcase how supercomputing and data processing can reduce social inequality, improve quality of life, and support local economies.

Expanding Access Through Inclusive Digital Learning

To address infrastructure barriers in remote areas, the research team developed a mobile-accessible learning platform that allows learners to access HPC training anytime, anywhere — significantly lowering entry barriers.

The platform has gained international recognition and has been adopted for use in the ACM HPC Summer School, helping promote equitable global access to technology education.

Thammasat’s Commitment to Sustainability and Social Responsibility

Reflecting on this milestone, Dr Worawan noted that this recognition demonstrates that supercomputing is not a distant concept, but a strategic national tool for advancing innovation, strengthening economic competitiveness and addressing social challenges.

This achievement aligns seamlessly with Thammasat University’s mission to create inclusive learning ecosystems, support its people, and remain committed to serving society through sustainability-driven innovation.