ICT Mahidol together with MU Library and Knowledge Center, as well as the Institute of Technology and Innovation Management (iNT), organized the “Mahidol AI Hackathon” under the topic “AI for Library Services”

On March 18, 2023 – Dr. Pattanasak Mongkolwat, Dean of the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology, Mahidol University (ICT Mahidol), presided over the opening ceremony of the “Mahidol AI Hackathon: AI for Library Services”. On this occasion, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yodchanan Wongsawat, Director of the Institute for Technology and Innovation Management (iNT), and Asst. Prof. Dr. Nopphon Pausawasdi, Director of Mahidol University Library and Knowledge Center, delivered welcoming speeches to all attendees. These included executives, instructors from the Faculty of Science and the MU Library and Knowledge Center, representatives from various companies such as Teletech Solution Co., Ltd. (Mr. Pattanaphan Pattanakaew, Managing Director), NVIDIA & VST ECS Thailand (Ms. Pankaew Sihawong, Thailand Enterprise Country Lead), as well as representatives from AppMan Co., Ltd. Additionally, 15 teams of students from 5 different faculties: the Faculty of ICT, the Faculty of Engineering, the Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, the Faculty of Science, and MUIC were also present.

Following that, Lect. Pagaporn Pengsart, Deputy Dean for Infrastructure and Technology, addressed the objectives of this Hackathon. During the competition, Dr. Tipajin Thaipisutikul, Assistant Dean for Academic Services and Technology Transfer, served as the MC at the Grand Auditorium and Bits & Bytes Hall, Faculty of ICT, Mahidol University.

On March 19, 2023 – the 15 teams presented their innovative prototypes to all committees including: Asst. Prof. Dr. Prapat Suriyaphol, the Deputy Dean of Information Technology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Dr. Apipoo Sittipoommongkol, Deputy Director of Library Management and Quality Development, Lect. Pagaporn Pengsart, Deputy Dean for Infrastructure and Technology, Dr. Thanapon Noraset, Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Suppawong Tuarob, ICT Mahidol instructor.

The results of the Hackathon are as follows:

1^st prize, with 30,000 THB and a certificate, presented by Asst. Prof. Dr. Nopphon Pausawasdi: Team Sai-Pai-Mua-Mua-Kor-Dai, from the Faculty of Science.
2^nd prize, with 15,000 THB and a certificate, presented by Asst. Prof. Dr. Nopphon Pausawasdi: Team MIRU-MICHI, from the Faculty of ICT.
3^rd prize, with 10,000 THB and a certificate, presented by Asst. Prof. Dr. Nopphon Pausawasdi: Team Palanamai, from the Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital.
Honorable mention prizes, with 3,000 THB and certificates, presented by Asst. Prof. Dr. Prapat Suriyaphol:
Team Neo Librarians, from Mahidol University International College
Team Hay day, from the Faculty of Science
Team Yellow Duck, from the Faculty of ICT
Special prizes, with 1,500 THB and certificates, presented by Asst. Prof. Dr. Prapat Suriyaphol:
Team Tua-Ngog-Kwa-Dao, from the Faculty of ICT
Team Lorax, from Mahidol University International College
Team RoRo’s, from the Faculty of ICT
Team We code using snake, from the Faculty of ICT
Surprise Award, with souvenirs from NVIDIA and certificates, presented by Asst. Prof. Dr. Prapat Suriyaphol: Team Insomnia, from Mahidol University International College
Iron Man Award (Special prize), with souvenirs from NVIDIA, presented by Asst. Prof. Dr. Prapat Suriyaphol: Charn Chongwattananukul, Team Neo Librarians, from Mahidol University International College

The “Mahidol AI Hackathon” is a part of Mahidol AI Center Project, under “AI-Based Medical Diagnosis: Center of Excellence in AI-Based Medical Diagnosis (AI-MD)”, which falls under the Reinventing University project. The competition is designed to promote and support the use of AI technology in various industries such as pharmaceuticals, medicine, treatment, and research. Mahidol University is confident that everyone has the potential to learn new skills and grow through an unlimited and non-classroom-based learning approach.

The “Mahidol AI Hackathon: AI for Library Services” runs for 24 hours from March 18-19, 2023. Its aim is to enable MU students to learn and apply cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) technologies to generate benefits. Furthermore, the competition intends to foster creativity and innovation by using AI and ML technologies to manage library services in various aspects such as marketing library users’ data, studying borrowing behaviors, recommending books, and developing novel services that respond to evolving trends. Furthermore, through this Hackathon, students have learned about promoting new reading activities for library users, as well as developing and promoting library services innovation to address changes in user needs.