AIT strengthens ties with NSTDA, TU, Thailand Science Park and National Science Museum

 
On the second Saturday of January, Thailand celebrates Children's
Day. Traditionally, local authorities organize free special events for
children. This year, AIT, together with the National Science and
Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), and Thammasat University (TU),
organized an event entitled “Amazing Children’s Day at Science City.”
One highlight of this celebration was the soft opening of the
Sirindhorn Science Home held at the Thailand Science Park on January 8,
2009.
The soft opening of the new science home was also an occasion for the
three strategic partners to discuss future collaboration, such as more
joint research projects between NSTDA and AIT. NSTDA’s Vice President,
Dr. Narong Sirilertworakul, and Dr. Janekrishna
Kanatharana
, Director of the Thailand Science Park, called on AIT’s
faculty, staff, and students to utilize the research laboratories
located at their respective facilities. The officials added that they
would welcome more joint research projects. AIT President Said
Irandoust said this could be achieved through Thailand Science
Park proposing relevant theses research proposals that could be
undertaken by AIT students.
AIT also extended an invitation to NSTDA to join a
planned consortium with the National Science Museum (NSM) to be
called the “Science Communications Alliance.” The National
Science Museum is a state enterprise operating under the umbrella of
Thailand’s Ministry of Science and Technology. The initiative will
provide a platform for staging workshops and exhibitions, and
eventually develop graduate degree and diploma programs in science
communications. The establishment of a Professorial Chair in Science
Communications is also under discussion. Thammasat University and other
partners will also be invited to join the consortium.
 
According to NSTDA, a number of international companies have expressed
interest in setting up an R&D base inside the Thailand Science
Park. A major precondition for this is access to competent staff, and
NSTDA officials believe that AIT and TU could fulfill this requirement
for highly skilled labor.