Enter the master's theses competition
Prof. Sudip Rakshit, vice president for research, announced a competition of the best research theses among the AIT graduating students in May 2006.
The competition will promote an atmosphere of research in the institute, acknowledge and showcase outstanding research conducted by students. This will also make everyone aware of the type of work going on in various fields in the institute, give students confidence in their research and presentation skills, exposure to the appropriateness of their work thus paving the way to encourage excellence in graduate scholarly research and recognizing outstanding student accomplishments.
This is considered an appropriate time as senior master's students are in the process of preparing and presenting their thesis results.
A series of seven competitions will be held in groupings in the current field of study structures. The school groupings will be as follows:
School of Environment, Resources and Development Resources (Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources Management, Agricultural Systems and Engineering, Food Engineering and Bioprocess Technology, Natural Resources Management, Pulp and Paper Technology); Energy and Environment (Energy, Environmental Engineering and Management); Development (Urban Environmental Management, Gender and Development Studies, Regional and Rural Development Planning)
School of Engineering and Technology Information and Communications Technologies (Computer Science and Information Management, Telecommunications, Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems); Civil (Structural Engineering, Water Engineering and Management, Construction, Engineering and Infrastructure Management, Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, Transportation Engineering); Industrial Systems and Engineering (Design and Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering and Management, Mechatronics, Microelectronics)
School of Management (Management of Technology, International Business, Service Marketing Technology, International Public Management)
Each field of study will be allowed two selected entrees who will take part in the group competition. For example, two Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources Management master's students expecting to graduate in May this year will take part in the Resources competition. The respective fields of study will have to choose their entrees from among their students. Interdisciplinary area of students will choose the field of study or group they will take part in consultation with their thesis supervisors.
Each individual presentation will be for 20 minutes followed by discussion.
The judges will be renowned scientists, faculty colleagues, industry practitioners, senior UN officials, etc. from outside the AIT system but located in Thailand. The vice president for research could serve as ex-officio (no voting rights) in all group judging committees.
The guidelines to the judges will include relevance, presentation skills, scientific contribution, originality, etc.
Sponsors are being sought from industry and other agencies for prizes. Contributors and suggestions for this will be highly appreciated.
The competitions will be held between the last 'Grades In' day and the graduation. They will be finalized soon. It is proposed that the three school level competitions will be held over three days.
The presentations will be held in the Milton Bender Auditorium and will be open to the whole AIT community.
A similar competition will be held in the coming semester for doctoral students with prizes allowing them to present their work in international conferences.
Updates on this subject will be provided as arrangements are finalized.