AIT is currently developing a summer school program with America's
Georgia College and State University (GCSU) which is anticipated to
begin in 2010.
An internationally recognized expert in the field of environmental
science, Prof. Andrei Barkovskii, visited AIT from 14-30 May 2009 to
discuss this initiative and to determine other possible areas for
collaboration. GCSU has a number of international campus sites and
partners in Europe, Australia and South America. Prof. Barkovskii said
he is eager to explore the camp’s Southeast Asian potential with
AIT.
A faculty member of GCSU's Department of Biological and Environmental
Sciences, Prof. Barkovskii also joined a field excursion to Cambodia
with AIT faculty members and Wetlands Alliance Partnership (WAP)
coordinator Dr. Theo Ebbers. The exercise was integral to establish and
align both partners’ wetlands-related experience and activities. WAP is
a one of AIT’s signature projects, and its secretariat is located on
campus.
Vice-President for Research, Prof. Sudip Rakshit, welcomed the
proposal, saying it fits with AIT’s plan to increase its visibility and
extend its reach into the United States. The proposal was jointly
developed by AIT and GCSU. To start the program, approximately 10-12
students from GCSU will spend few weeks of study at AIT. The first
module on environmental engineering and management, will be led by
Field of Study Coordinator, Dr. O. Shipin. After the 3-week program, 5
credits will be awarded.
The summer school’s tentative theme is “Environmental problems and
their solving: paving the road to environmental sustainability in the
Southeast Asia region.” The program will make heavy use of integrated
and diversified discussions, and tackle differences in perceptions of
sustainable development found in the USA and Thailand. A series of
lectures on the environmental assessment and conservation of natural
ecosystems will also be performed by selected specialists.
Prof. Barkovskii, left, with AIT
environmental engineering expert Dr. O. Shipin.