Expected research fields for the “collaboration laboratory” will
include sustainable environment, energy, biosphere, and infrastructure.
The specific research themes will be announced by the Japanese Ministry
of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).
Welcoming the JST delegation, AIT’s Vice President for Resource
Development, Prof. Kazuo Yamamoto described the prospect of sending
young Japanese researchers to universities and institutes in ASEAN is a
welcome move. He recalled that he himself was seconded from Japan to
AIT, and that many senior faculty members in universities in Japan have
served at AIT.
Besides Mr. Dai Minowa, Mr. Masayuki Tominaga and Mr. Hirotoshi Tagata
of Department of International Affairs represented JST. AIT was
represented by Prof. Yamamoto, Prof. C Visvanathan, Dean, School of
Environment, Resources and Development (SERD), Dr. Lal Samarakoon,
Director, Geoinformatics Center; Prof. Haruo Sawada and Dr. Shinichi
Nakamura, both visiting faculty from Japan, Dr. Gabrielle Groves, Head,
External Relations and Communications Office (ERCO); and Ms. Sumana
Shrestha, Program Officer, ERCO .
