AIT Newsletter September 2012
340 students from 28 countries join AIT
HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn visits AIT exhibit at the “National Science & Technology Fair 2012”
Dr. Teerapat selected member of Board of Governors of Thai Public Broadcasting Service
AIT launches Bachelor’s program in Bio-systems Engineering and Environmental Engineering
AIT’s man in the UNDP Asia-Pacific Human Development Report 2012
Dr. Kyoko Kusakabe authors, edits two books on gender in Asia
AIT the hub for international effort to map Philippine flood from space
Remote Sensing Technology Center of Japan (RESTEC) signs MoU with AIT
Colorado State University and AIT to develop joint research program
New ties with education services in Gaungdong province
August 2012 Batch Orientation Day
AIT student Ashik Rajbhandari takes prize at 14th APNG Camp
News You Can Use
Google versus Facebook
Coming up
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340 students from 28 countries join AIT

Incoming students at AIT.
Incoming students of the August 2012 batch.
Three hundred and forty students from 28 countries, from five continents joined the new batch of students at AIT on 10 August 2012. At the orientation program, the students, who form the historic first batch in AIT’s Intergovernmental era, were welcomed to the Institute with a schedule of day-long activities and festivities.
The new students come from Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia and South America; with Thailand providing the largest cohort of students (103). Myanmar with 59 and Nepal with 25 students, are the other major countries of origin of the newest batch to enter AIT.

HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn visits AIT exhibit at the “National Science & Technology Fair 2012”

Dean Weerakorn Ongsakul explains the research on display to HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
Dean Weerakorn Ongsakul explains the research on display to HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn graciously visited the AIT booth during her official tour of the annual National Science and Technology Fair at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC) on 22 August 2012.
HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn visited the AIT booth where she viewed several examples of current research being implemented at the Institute, such as a smart policeman mannequin that can detect traffic violators instantaneously.
This research, spearheaded by Dr. Mongkol Ekpanyapong, Microelectronics and Embedded Systems and Mechatronics and Dr. Matthew Dailey, Coordinator of the Computer Science and Information Management field of study, both from the School of Engineering and Technology (SET), is undergoing its final testing and is scheduled for release to the Royal Thai Police in 2-3 months.

Dr. Teerapat selected member of Board of Governors of Thai Public Broadcasting Service

Dr Teerapat Sanguankotchakorn
Dr. Teerapat Sanguankotchakorn

Dr. Teerapat Sanguankotchakorn, Associate Professor, Telecommunications Field of Study, School of Engineering and Technology (SET) has been selected as a member of Board of Governors of Thai Public Broadcasting Service (TPBS).
Thai PBS is the first public TV broadcaster in SouthEast Asia, and functions under the Thai Public Broadcasting Service Act B.E.2008. It enjoys the status of a state agency with legal responsibility, without being a government agency or a state enterprise. Dr. Teerapat and other committee members will supervise and help the President of Thai PBS and its management team with policy inputs to facilitate its smooth functioning.

AIT launches Bachelor’s program in Bio-systems Engineering and Environmental Engineering

AIT signs MoU with SAITM
MoU signing ceremony in Sri Lanka.

AIT has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM), Sri Lanka, to launch four-year collaborative international Bachelor’s degree programs in Bio-systems Engineering and Environmental Engineering.
The agreement was signed by Prof. Said Irandoust, AIT President, and Prof. Neville Fernando Chairman, SAITM on 1 August 2012. SAITM plans to officially start the four-year program in October 2012, under which students will spend their first two years in Sri Lanka and will transfer to AIT during final two years. The new program will be offered by AIT’s School of Environment Resources and Development (SERD).

AIT’s man in the UNDP Asia-Pacific Human Development Report 2012

Clemens Grunbuhel
Dr. Clemens Grunbuhel

Natural Resources Management field of study’s Dr. Clemens Grunbuhel has made a mark in academic circles by contributing to the Asia-Pacific Human Development Report 2012, published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Dr. Grunbuhel is one of the principal contributors of technical background papers. The publication released in May was aimed at reinvigorating climate change dialogue by bringing people’s concerns into the fore ahead of the Rio +20 Conference.Dr. Clemens Grunbuhelhas contributed thematic case studies on Ganges-Brahmaputra and Mekong River delta regions.

Dr. Kyoko Kusakabe authors, edits two books on gender in Asia

Kyoko Kusabake
Dr. Kyoko Kusakabe

Dr. Kyoko Kusakabe of Gender and Development Studies, School of Environment, Resources and Development, has contributed to the field of gender studies in Asia with the release of two publications.
Dr. Kusakabe recently co-authored one book titled ‘Thailand’s Hidden Workforce: Burmese Migrant Women Factory Workers’ and edited another titled ‘Gender, Roads and Mobility in Asia.’ Both works have received considerable favorable reviews from experts in academia, nongovernmental organizations and the media.

AIT the hub for international effort to map Philippine flood from space

Dr Masahiko Nagai with AIT students.
Dr. Masahiko Nagai (left) with AIT students.
AIT emerged as the focal point of an international effort to produce satellite imagery and high resolution maps to aid disaster relief operations following the floods in The Philippines.
Dr. Masahiko Nagai, Associate Director of AIT’s Geoinformatics Center (GIC/AIT), spearheaded efforts to create upto-date satellite-generated maps for scientists at the Manila Observatory and National Institute of Geological Sciences, University of the Philippines.
Starting on August 8, while collaborating with a number of space agencies from around the world, Dr. Nagai analyzed satellite images of Metro Manila and Luzon Island taken before and during the height of the flood. On August 14 the team at produced a color-coded, highresolution composite image map of highly
flooded areas.

Remote Sensing Technology Center of Japan (RESTEC) signs MoU with AIT

Mr Kaname Ikeda (left) with Prof. Said Irandoust.
Mr. Kaname Ikeda (left) and Prof. Said Irandoust.

The Remote Sensing Technology Center of Japan (RESTEC) has signed a MoU with AIT to promote research and dissemination of remote sensing technology in
the region.
The MoU was signed by Mr. Kaname Ikeda, President, RESTEC, and Prof. Said Irandoust, President, AIT on 23 August 2012. The MoU aims to encourage collaboration in the field of earth observation data utilization including exchange of personnel, researchers and engineers; provision of lectures and training; and promotion of joint research and
business.
Signing the MoU, Mr. Ikeda stated that RESTEC was established in 1975 with a focus on remote sensing technology and capacity building. Since then, it has been working in research and development in the field of remote sensing, and has helped in spreading the results of its research work.

Colorado State University and AIT to develop joint research program

MoU signing ceremony at CSU
MoU signing ceremony at CSU.

Colorado State University (CSU), Fort Collins, Colorado, USA and AIT aim to develop a joint self-sustaining research program in the field of alternative energy.
A MoU to facilitate the program was signed by Dr. James A. Cooney, Vice Provost (International Affairs), CSU on 10 August 2012 during a visit of an AIT delegation to CSU. The MoU seeks collaborative academic programs, joint research activities, exchange of academic and scientific information, and an exchange of faculty and students.The ceremony was witnessed by Prof. Steven Abt, Interim Dean, College of Engineering; Prof. V. Chandrasekar, Associate Dean for International Research; Prof. RamchandOad of  Civil and Environmental Engineering; Professor Emeritus John D. Nelson; and Prof. Wade Troxell, Associate Dean for Research and Economic Development. AIT was represented by Dr. Weerakorn Ongsakul, Dean, School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD); and Dr. Anil Kumar Anal, Associate Dean, Research and Outreach, SERD.

New ties with education services in Gaungdong province

Prof Said Irandoust (left) and Mr. Victor Chan
Prof. Said Irandoust (left) and Mr.Victor Chan.

Guangdong Education Service of International Exchanges, TianHe Center (GESIE), People’s Republic of China (PRC) has signed a MoU with AIT to conduct academic activities focused in the Guangdong province. Activities will include partnership in Unified Bachelor-Master Program; two-stage Bachelor’s Program, as well as regular Master’s and Doctoral programs.
The MoU was signed by Mr.Victor Chan, Director of GESIE, with the AIT President, Prof. Said Irandoust on 24 August 2012. GEISIE is the only official governmental organization in province authorized to handle foreign student affairs.  During the next few months, delegates from Guangdong Province will be visiting AIT to learn more about
the Institute.

August 2012 Batch Orientation Day

Welcoming the students, Prof. Said Irandoust, President, AIT, described the Institute as best of kind in “terms of contribution to the development of the region.”

Welcome to AIT Orientation.
Welcome sign at Orientation.
Orientation at AIT's School of Management.
Orientation of School of Management.
Prof. Said Irandoust.
Prof. Said Irandoust.
New students
New students at AIT Orientation.
New students at AIT Orientation.
New students at AIT Orientation.
New students at AIT Orientation.
New students at AIT Orientation.

Prof. I.M.Pandey.
Prof. I.M.Pandey.

Dr. Nitin Afzulpurkar.
Dr. Nitin Afzulpurkar.
Dr. Barbara Igel.
Dr. Barbara Igel.
Dr. Amararatne Yakupitiyage.
Dr. Amararatne Yakupitiyage.
Mr. Rajeev Sinha.
Mr. Rajeev Sinha.

AIT student Ashik Rajbhandari takes prize at 14th APNG Camp

Ashik Rajbhandari
Ashik Rajbhandari

Presenting his research entitled “Topic - Geo Mapping of Disaster Information Using Ontology,” at 14th APNG Camp held in Seoul, South Korea, AIT Doctoral student Mr. Ashik Rajbhandari of Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems  impressed the Asia Pacific Networking Group (APNG) community and was awarded the runner-up prize for best research presentation.
His research proposes a more precise way to acquire information from certain databases. The system works as a relevant knowledge-based system acquiring the objectives of identification, integration, semantic interoperability, standardization and visualization of related information for disaster. 80 participants from 15 countries / territories attended this year’s camp.

News You Can Use

Google versus Facebook

Is Google+ better than Facebook? PCWorld seems to think so. It has come up with nine reasons to shift from Facebook to Google.http://goo.gl/C5fGW
Gizmodo on the other hand claims that Google+ will never beat Facebook.Read here : http://goo.gl/i6ZvS
At AIT, we have decided to embrace both channels. . From this month, AIT is also on Google+.
Google+

Coming up

•     September 7-8 : AIT Day
•     September 10-12 : Technology Needs Assessment for Climate Change: A UNEP-GEF Project
•     September 20-24 : Asia-Pacific International Model United Nation Conference

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Credits

Editor: Bajinder Pal Singh bajinder@ait.asia
Photos: Paitoon Tinnapong
Feedback: contact Media and Communications Unit at AIT mcu@ait.asia