On 26 September 2008, Dr. Monthip Sriratana Tabucanon,
Director-General of the Department of Environmental Quality Promotion,
who is also a distinguished AIT alumnus, led a senior delegation from
the Environment Research and Training Center (ERTC), Department of
Environmental Quality Promotion, Ministry of  Natural Resources
and Environment, Thailand, for an MoU signing between  AIT and the
ERTC. 

The objectives of the MOU includes cooperation between AIT and ERTC
for promoting mutually beneficial researches, seminars, trainings and
academic collaborations, particularly in the fields of environmental
engineering and management.

On 24 September 2008, AIT President Said Irandoust led
an AIT delegation comprised of officials  from the institute’s
central administration, schools and AIT Extension to the Amata Nakorn
Industrial Estate in Chonburi, which is located about 50 kms from
Bangkok.

A review on the status of the Wetlands Alliance Program (WAP) was
performed from 15-24 September 2008, before the formal evaluation of
the program that has been tentatively planned to be held in early 2009.
Mr. Borje Wallberg and Dr.
Jean-Lacoursiere conducted the review focusing n being able to
provide feedback to the Alliance partners on Sida’s concerns.

Dr. Tej Bunnag (fourth from left) is
recognized as 
"Person of the Year" during Thailand Tatler's anniversary.
(Photo
courtesy of Thailand Tatler)

Dr. Tej Bunnag, who was recently reinstated back as the
Chairman of the AIT Board of Trustees, was recognized as Thailand
Tatler magazine’s “Person of the Year” for 2008.

At the presentation ceremony for the award at the magazine’s 17th
Anniversary Celebration held in Bangkok, Dr. Tej made a reference in
his speech to his brief but significant tenure as foreign minister of
Thailand.

According to Dr. Joydeep Dutta, Director of
the Center of Excellence in Nanotechnology, and Associate Dean School
of Engineering and Technology, the new master’s program in
nanotechnology is planned for launch from the January 2009 intake. This
is stated to be a very unique and interesting, application-oriented
multidisciplinary program that integrates physics / engineering
physics, chemistry / chemical engineering, material science / material
engineering.

By Natnipha Vimuktanon

Asian Institute of Technology Ph.D. candidate Udaya
Rathnayaka, a student of food engineering and bioprocess
technology at the School of Environment, Resources and Development,
says he has found a better way to detect the deadly pathogen salmonella
found in chicken meat.