Teaching, learning about Thai eco-friendly food packaging

Shyam Sablani grew up in India and has lived in Canada, Oman, and the U.S. His familiarity with living in different cultures will serve him well as he embarks on a new adventure: serving as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar in Thailand for six months.

Sablani, a professor in WSU's Department of Biological Systems Engineering, studies and teaches about food packaging and food safety. In Thailand, he will teach graduate level courses, guest lecture in some undergraduate classes, and continue his scientific work by coordinating with researchers in his host country.

"Thailand has a culture of using more eco-friendly materials in food packaging," Sablani said. "I'm excited to learn more about this culture and hopefully bring some good information back. That's the focus of the Fulbright program, exchanging knowledge and ideas. I will teach, but also learn."

Sablani will be in Thailand from December until June of 2025. He will be based in the Department of Packaging and Materials Technology at Kasetsart University in Bangkok, but he will travel to other institutions in Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries.

"I learned after being accepted that the Fulbright program encourages scholars to visit nearby countries to further the impact of culture and educational exchange," Sablani said. "I'm hoping to briefly visit institutions where I can learn about their programs and talk about the strengths of WSU."

He will spend 40% of his time teaching and 60% researching eco-friendly and sustainable food packaging.

Fulbright Scholar Awards provide opportunities for scholars to teach and conduct research abroad. Fulbright scholars also play a critical role in U.S. public diplomacy, establishing long-term relationships between people and nations.

The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program is primarily funded by Congress with additional funding from participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations in foreign countries.