AIT Auditorium is now Robert B Banks Auditorium

Tracing the history of AIT and envisioning the future

Fond memories of AIT says Afghanistan Minister

AIT to support Digital Belt and Road International Center of Excellence

AIT takes the lead in the SWITCH Asia program

Dr Anil Kumar authors book on Bionanotechnology

AIT Cultural Show

Dr Djoen San Santoso promoted to Associate Professor

Seminars and Conferences

CSR activity in Kanchanburi

In Memory of late Prof Robert B Banks

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AIT Auditorium is now Robert B Banks Auditorium

Among the pioneers who left their home countries and moved to Asia in the second half of the twentieth century to work towards the cause of higher education were a galaxy of academicians and leaders. And within few decades they had achieved what was then considered a dream — creating an international level postgraduate institute in the region, namely the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT).

One such trailblazer was Prof. Robert B Banks, who joined AIT as a Director of Research, and later served as President from January 1977-July 1983. To honor his legacy, the AIT Auditorium has now been

named the Robert B Banks Auditorium. On 20 February 2018, Chairperson of AIT Board of Trustees, Dr. Subin Pinkayan, and President Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai stood on the stage, and unveiled the plaque which proudly said: “Robert B Banks Auditorium.” Gunta Banks, wife, and Erik Banks, son of late President Banks, also delivered a message on the occasion thanking AIT for this gesture. https://goo.gl/WRx8Fc.

Tracing the history of AIT and envisioning the future

Tracing the history of the establishment of the SEATO Graduate School of Engineering and AIT, and envisioning the future of the Institute in the context of global and regional changes in the landscape of higher education was the theme of two lectures organized by AIT in February 2018.

Setting things in motion at AIT on 20 February 2018 was the Milton E. Bender Jr. Lecture and Public Discussion, where Dr. Adrian Ray Chamberlain, former President of Colorado State University (CSU), spoke on “SEATO-GSE AND AIT: Beginnings and Visions for the Future.” The event was followed by the Thanat Khoman lecture by Dr. Chamberlain on “Visions for Thailand’s Higher Education Leadership as a Regional Hub for Science, Technology and Innovation in the 21st Century Global Society,” held on 22 February 2018.

The talk at AIT was followed by a group discussion led by Dr. John D. Nelson, Professor Emeritus, CSU; Prof. Alastair M. North, former AIT President, and Dr. Anat Arbhabhirama, Director and Advisor to the Board of Directors, Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited. At the Thanat Khoman lecture, Dr. Srilaksana Khoman, Dr. Thanat’sdaughter-in-law spoke about her father-in-law, the man and his programs, and his times as Ambassador and Minister of Foreign Affairs. H.E. Mr. Vitthya Vejjajiva, former Ambassador and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted the importance of AIT and traced its route from the SEATO Graduate School. Prof. Bundhit Eua-arporn, President of Chulalongkorn University spoke about the role played by Dr. Thanat Khoman and the journey traversed by Chulalongkorn University and AIT.

H.E. Dr. Subin Pinkayan, Chairperson, AIT Board of Trustees, AIT President Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, and Ms. Doris Wibunsin, Honorary Treasurer John F. Kennedy Foundation of Thailand for Thai-American Friendship delivered the note of thanks.

Fond memories of AIT says Afghanistan Minister

Deputy Minister for Academic Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, H.E. Mr. Abdul Tawab Balakarzai reminisced his days as a student at AIT, and complimented the multicultural, multinational, and multilingual ethos of the Institute.

Visiting AIT on 12 February 2018, the Minister was leading a six-member delegation of officials. “AIT is a second home to me, and I am always very happy to be here,” he remarked. Mr. Balakarzai was a student in Water Engineering and Management (WEM) from 2008-2010, and after graduating, he joined the Kandahar University where he served as Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

The visiting delegation was led by Minister Balakarzai, and it included Mr. Noor Ahmad Darwish, Director, Higher Education Development Program (HEDP); Mr. Bahadur Hellali, Senior Education and Technology Manager; Mr. Yama Hashimi, Senior Universities Operations Manager; Mr. Zubair Seddiqi, Director Academic Programs; and Mr. Tariq Seddiqi, Director, Administration

and Finance.

AIT to support Digital Belt and Road International Center of Excellence

AIT is among the organizations that will support the China’s Digital Belt and Road (DBAR) program following the establishment of the Digital Belt and Road International Center of Excellence

(DBAR ICoE-Bangkok). The establishment of the Center was officially announced on 27 February 2018 by the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) along with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

An official statement issued by the National News Bureau of Thailand stated that apart from NRCT, AIT, Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), and Ramkhamhaeng University will support the initiative. “The agencies will gather and integrate data on climate change, in order to reduce risks associated with natural disasters and support research on sustainable development,” the statement added. Prof. Voratas Kachitvichyanukul, Dean, School of Engineering and Technology (SET), participated in the event.

AIT takes the lead in the SWITCH Asia program

Fifteen professionals of Environmental Planning and Economic Division, Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment of Sri Lanka studied a professional development course on “Sustainable

Consumption and Production” organized by AIT Extension from 5-16 February 2018.

Supported by SWITCH-Asia, which is the largest EU-funded programme promoting Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) in Asia, the program was led by Mr. Fazle Karim of AIT Extension and Prof. C Visvanathan of School of Environment, Resources and Development.

Dr Anil Kumar authors book on Bionanotechnology

A book on “Bionanotechnology: Principles and Applications” written by Dr. Anil Kumar Anal, Head, Department of Food, Agriculture & Bioresources in AIT’s School of Environment, Resources and

Development (SERD) has been published by CRC press.

Says Dr. Anil, “Biological systems are essential in nanotechnology, and many new applications are being developed by mimicking the natural systems.” The book seeks to provide the reader with broader

knowledge of biological methods for signal transduction and molecular recognition systems and how they can be replicated in bio-sensing applications. Readers will learn the basic structures and interactions of

biomacromolecules for developing bio-compatible and ecofriendly devices, he says.

AIT Cultural Show

Dr Djoen San Santoso promoted to Associate Professor

Dr. Djoen San Santoso has been promoted to the rank of Associate Professor in the School of Engineering and Technology (SET). This was announced by  AIT President Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai

following the recommendations of the Faculty Evaluation Panel (FEP) and the SET Faculty Evaluation Committee.

Dr. Santoso was appointed AIT as an Assistant Professor in the School of Engineering and Technology in December 2011. Prior to joining AIT, he was holding the position of Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of Science and Engineering in Saitama University, Japan (December 2008 – November 2011). His research encompasses the areas of infrastructure planning and policy, asset management, risk management, public-private partnerships, sustainable transportation in developing countries, public transportation, and non-motorized transportation.

Seminars and Conferences

From 0 Machine  to 1000 Machines Architecture by Mr. Udomsak Donkhampai (7 February 2018)

Development Cooperation of the European Union: Priorities, Strategies and Methodological Considerationsby Jerome Pons (14 February 2018)

Deriving Human Behavior from Mobile Big Data and Its Case Studies by Dr. Apichon Witayangkurn (14 February 2018)

Curriculum Development of MSIE4.0 for Thailand (13 February 2018)

Smart Development of Competences for Smart Industries by  Prof. Rui M Lima

Identifying key criteria in development of Industrial Engineering education by Prof. Tomasz Nitkiewicz

Industry’s 4.0 Challenges for the Industrial Engineering Curricula by Prof. Tom Savu

Building up quality assurance system on university-perspective of Industrial Engineering Master Program by Prof. Robert Ulewicz

CSR activity in Kanchanaburi

AIT’s annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) event was held at Khow-Khwang on 10 February 2018, when AIT employees organized a tree plantation in the area of Wat Thipsukhontharam, Kanchanaburi. The land is owned by the Crown Property Bureau of Thailand.

Led by President Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, the team of 60 AIT employees planted saplings on the mountain behind the newly built standing Buddha Statue in Kanchanaburi Province. The 32-meter tall stature,

namely Pra Buddha Metta Prachatai at Wat Thep Sukhontharam, was structurally designed by Prof. Pramote Tarasak, AIT Alumnus (STR’1971) and tested for wind and earthquake stability at the AIT-TU joint

wind tunnel lab by Prof. Pennung Warnitchai of AIT. The AIT delegation welcomed by Mr. Hatairat Yupas, SeniorHead of Sustainable Development Support Department of the Crown Property Bureau, along with officials of the Buddhametta Prachatai Foundation.

In Memory of late Prof Robert B Banks

A Tribute to Prof Robert B Banks

https://youtu.be/QzyqNyYqqnM

A message from the Banks family

https://youtu.be/9dDMYyObEk8

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Editor: Bajinder Pal Singh bajinder@ait.ac.th

Photos:

Paitoon Tinnapong

Samphat Semathong

Contact:  Office of Media and Communications omco@ait.ac.th