Flurry of activity as Institute marches ahead

One of the winning entries at the AIT Photography Competition. Credit: Tran Sy Bang.

A flurry of activity marked the month of November 2013, as the AIT management and students immersed themselves into AIT affairs.

The Chairman, Board of Trustees, H.E. Dr. Subin Pinkayan held meetings with the entire community, including students, faculty, staff and alumni as he sought inputs for AIT’s Roadmap.

AIT students, getting ready for their December examinations, organized two signature events – the International Food Fair and a Photography Competition. The AIT Career Center organized its bi-annual Career Fair. Read more details in this issue of the AIT Newsletter.

Internet Hall of Fame profiles AIT’s pioneering inductee Prof. Kanchana Kanchanasut

Screenshot of Internet Hall of Fame homepage.

The Internet Hall of Fame profiled AIT’s Vice President of Research Prof. Kanchana Kanchanasut, as part of its series of exclusive articles on its 2013 inductees.

The article “Professor Beats Daunting Odds, Upheaval to Link Thailand to Internet” is highlighted under the Hall of Fame’s Exclusive Series. It tells the story of the AIT computer scientist’s pioneering role to bring the Web to life in Thailand in the 1980s.

AIT wishes for early recovery of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn

Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai signing the guest book wishing a speedy recovery for HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

AIT presented its good wishes for the early recovery of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, who was recovering after an operation. Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, Interim President went to Anandamahidol Building, Chulalongkorn Hospital on 15 November 2013 at 15.30 hours to present AIT’s best wishes.

Prof Worsak was accompanied by Dr. Noppadol Phien-Wej, Dr. Manukid Panichkun, and Dr. Matthew Dailey, faculty members from AIT’s School of Engineering and

Technology (SET), and Ms.Wannapa Pliansri, Coordinator, Royal Thai Government Relations, AIT.

AIT is very important for this region, says Chinese embassy official

Mr. Zhou Gaoyu

The mission of AIT to help support development in Asian countries is commendable and AIT is very important for this region. These were the remarks of Mr. Zhou Gaoyu, First Secretary (Education), Embassy of the People’s Republic of China during a visit to AIT on 22 November 2013.

Mr. Zhou, who was visiting AIT for the first time, expressed his happiness at visiting AIT stating that the Institute has a long history of cooperation with China. He stated that he would be talking to the China Scholarship Council (CSC) to ensure optimum utilization of its scholarships to AIT. Mr. Zhou stated that internationality is an important criterion in China, and AIT is rightly positioned in this aspect.

AIT’s Shobhakar Dhakal named to team of international climate scientists pledged to help cities

Dr. Shobhakar Dhakal

Dr. Shobhakar Dhakal of AIT has been named a lead member of an international effort by top climate scientists to help cities around the world address the causes and consequences of climate change.

Dr. Shobhakar will be overseeing expert teams that will produce assessments on a range of issues, from urban health to food to water and energy systems, transportation, economics and private finance, and governance. The work is part of a larger effort by the Urban Climate Change Research Network (UCCRN) to synthesize scientific knowledge and produce a resource for guiding cities in their response to climate change.

The Second UCCRN Assessment Report on Climate Change and Cities (ARC3-2) will be published in 2015.

Chevron offers scholarship for Offshore Petroleum Exploration and Production

From left: Dr. Gregory Chiu, Mr. Pairoj Kaweeyanun, and Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai.

Chevron Thailand Exploration and Production, Ltd. and its partners presented a cheque of 1,005,000 THB to AIT on 5 November 2013 to create a scholarship program to support education in offshore petroleum exploration and production.

The cheque was presented by Mr. Pairoj Kaweeyanun, President, Chevron Thailand to Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, Interim President, AIT and Dr. Gregory Chiu, Professor of Practice, Offshore Technology and Management (OTM) Program. The scholarship program is the result of collaboration between Chevron Thailand and its partners, Mitsui Oil Exploration Co. Ltd. (MOECO), PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP), HESS (Thailand) Ltd., and Palang Sophon Ltd., with AIT.

Close to 90 per cent of sludge is dumped, study reveals

From left: Dr. Thammarat Koottatep, Mr. Walter Gibson, and Dr. Roshan Shrestha.

Though Thailand boasts almost 100 per cent sanitation coverage, close to 90 per cent of fecal sludge is dumped illegally in agriculture areas, open spaces and water streams. This, along with other unpleasant facts about sanitation have emerged from the field survey conducted by a team from AIT led by Dr. Thammarat Koottatep of

the School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD).

Dr. Thammarat, who is heading the Reinventing the Toilet project awarded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, presented his findings on 11 November 2013 at the project’s Advisory Panel meeting in Bangkok.

New Chairman Dr. Subin reaches out to AIT Community

Newly elected Chairman of the AIT Board of Trustees H.E. Dr. Subin Pinkayan on 6 November 2013 reached out to the AIT Community through a series of on-campus town hall-type meetings with faculty, staff and students. He also sought inputs for the proposed AIT Roadmap.

AIT Career Fair draws nine new companies for the first time

The Career Fair organized by AIT on 6 November 2013 drew nine companies for the first time, taking the total tally of companies that participated to 28. The bi-annual event aimed at bringing companies closer to AIT and its students was inaugurated by AIT’s Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs, Prof. Sivanappan Kumar.

AIT Student Union organizes International Food Fair and Photography Competition

The AIT Student Union organized an International Food Fair on 22 November 2013. They also organized an AIT Photography Exhibition and the AIT Photography Competition. Later that night, a Music Concert and an award distribution ceremony was held for winners of the AIT Mini Olympics, AIT Photography Competition,

and the AIT Food Fair.

Winners of the AIT Photography Competitions 2013

Credit: 1. Tran Sy Bang

Credit: Bilal Afsar

Credit: Tran Sy Bang

Credit: M. A. Melinda Yasaranji

Credit: Pau Badia Grimalt

Credit: Naeem Shahzad

Forty-second GBM of AIT Alumni Association

   Fifteen national chapters of AIT Alumni Associationattended the forty-second General Body Meeting(GBM) held at Yangon, Myanmar from 15-17November 2013.

Formally opened by Mrs. Khin Aye Aye Mon, President AITAA Myanmar Chapter, the event was graced by H. E. Mr. Pisanu Suvanajata, Ambassador of Thailand

to Myanmar. Mr. Chawalit Chantararat, President of AITAA Mother Chapter, Mr. Htet Nyi, Honorary Counselor of Norway, and Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai,

Interim President, AIT.

Prof. Worsak stated that during his interim presidency, he would seek to accomplish three major tasks including renovating the entire AIT campus, steer the fundraising

campaign to renovate AIT Central Library and create an AIT plaza, and improve the state of AIT finances. The GBM members also interacted with H. E. Dr. Subin

Pinkayan, Chairman of AIT Board of Trustees, who provided insight on AIT’s roadmap to the future.

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News You Can Use

Wiping out the Blackboard

“Classrooms have had computers for decades, but in the past few years the buzz about “education technology” (or edtech) has become persistent, especially in America. This is because of new generations of learning software, free online tutorials and better connectivity.”

But will it wipeout the Blackboard? Read more in The Economist

http://www.economist.com/blogs/theworldin2014/2013/11/edtech-2014

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