AIT President Said Irandoust was a recent speaker at the 4th Annual Meeting of the Science and Technology in Society Forum (STS Forum) held in Kyoto, Japan, from 7-9 October 2007. The president’s participation at this event came at the invitation of H.E. Mr. Koji Omi, Founder and Chairman of the STS Forum, and former Minister of Finance of Japan.
In Japan, the president also participated as one of the four speakers at the University Presidents' Breakfast Meeting, which was held on October 8th and co-hosted by Professor Komiyama Hiroshi, President of the University of Tokyo, and Professor Susan Hockfield, President of MIT. The theme for this august morning gathering of presidents of some of the world’s top universities was "Universities and Society".
Prior to that, on October 5th President Irandoust delivered a lecture addressing Asian energy and environmental issues and AIT's experiences in the role of regional cooperation, at the 3rd Asian Science and Technology Forum (ASTF) held in Tokyo from 4-5 October 2007. Significantly, the forum officially recognized the importance of AIT as a regional institute at the conclusion part of this important forum. The forum also recommended the establishment of an "Asian R&D Innovation Center for Sustainable Development" as a possible part of a future Sustainable Asia Research Organization. It also recognized that the advancement of multilateral joint research with Asian countries is a vital part of efforts to address the environmental and energy issues that the region faces. AIT will actively work with these ideas in close interaction with Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), the organizer of the forum.
Earlier, October 4th, President Irandoust met with Professor Dr. Hideo Miyahara, the new President of the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NiCT), which has been a strong supporter of AIT, partnering the Institute in various R&D collaborative programs since 1998. At NiCT, President Irandoust had the honour to present a certificate of appreciation from AIT to President Miyahara and NiCT for their contribution to the capacity development needs in the region, through AIT. This important partnership was developed by Professor Kazi Ahmed, of SET, and his field of study colleagues.
On the same day President also met with H.E. Mr. Suvidhya Simaskul, Ambassador of Thailand to Japan, and Mr. Benjamin Sukanjanajtee, the First Secretary, Royal Thai Embassy in Japan, discussing various issues related to Thailand-AIT-Japan academic collaboration.
AIT faculty members Professor S. Kumar, Dean SERD, Professor Kazi Ahmed, SET, and Professor Michiro Kusanagi, SET, all provided their support in various ways for the preparations of AIT President’s visit to Japan. Professor Vilas M. Salokhe, who is currently on a six-month sabbatical at Kyoto University, also took time off to join the president at the STS Forum in Kyoto. The AIT President’s visit to Japan was fully funded by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST).