Pichai Brings Home Outstanding Technologist Awards 2002
Associate Professor Pichai Nimityonskul was selected to receive the 'Outstanding Technologist Award 2002' given by the Foundation for the Promotion of Science and Technology under the Patronage of His Majesty the King.
He shares the award with a 13-member team of researchers that integrated a comprehensive research on the utilization of lignite fly ash in Thailand. The team, representing different universities, was sponsored by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT); three members of the group are EGAT officials, most of whom are alumni from the Structural Engineering Program of SCE. As advisor to the team, Dr. Pichai evaluated the researches that aim to help alleviate pollution, find feasible replacement material for cement, and promote use of waste materials.
Dr. Pichai completed his Master of Engineering and Ph. D. degrees from SCE/AIT in 1969 and 1973, respectively. He was one of the pioneer researchers who studied the mix design of fly ash cement concrete using Mae Moh Ash (Mae Moh Lignite Power Plant in Lampang).
The team shares the award with another alumnus, Prof. Dr. Methi Wecharatana who completed his B. Engineering degree from Chulalongkorn University in 1976, his Master of Engineering degree in Structural Engineering from AIT in 1978, and a Ph.D. on Mechanics and Materials Engineering from the University of Illinois in 1982.
The awards were announced on October 6 and are to be formally given on October 18, 2002, a day marked by the Government of Thailand as 'Thai Technology Day' in honor of H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej as 'Father of Thai Technology'. The recognitions, which carry a cash prize of 400,000 Baht, will be formally given by Prime Minister Shinawatra Thaksin at the Grand Diamond Ballroom of IMPACT Convention Center, Muang Thong Thani Complex.