16 projects worth 19 million Baht under the Joint Research Project of
the Royal Thai Government were officially launched today with the AIT
President Said Irandoust formally signing the agreement with partners
from 10 university and 3 research institutes of Thailand.
Welcoming research partners and scholars, AIT President Said Irandoust
remarked that research has to be focused in order to increase
competitiveness of the region. “We all believe that this century
belongs to Asia and the road towards sustainability is paved by
knowledge”, the AIT President said. The mission is collaborative and
AIT regards itself as a network institution, he added. He stressed the
need for research while stating that even undergraduate programs must
be led by people who are actively involved in research. The AIT
President also complimented AIT faculty and colleagues for their
commitment towards collaborative projects.
Prof. Dr. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, Vice President for Resources
Development and Dean of School of Engineering and Technology revealed
that the RTG Joint Research Project began in 2002 and this was the
seventh batch. “We received 50 proposals and the best were selected for
the RTG Projects”, Prof Worksak said. 16 projects will be conducted
jointly between AIT and 10 Thai universities and three research
centers. The remaining four projects are from the Thai private
sector.
The Joint Research Projects under the Royal Thai Government Funding
program is a key national initiative supporting the country’s concept
of “people as the center of development”. This program aims to develop
the potential of Thai researchers at the country’s leading research
institutes. This year, the RTG program has supported AIT with 19
million Baht, its highest financial commitment in the program that
began in 2002.
According to Wannapa Pliansri, RTG Relations Coordinator the projects
which have been approved include:
(1) Dr. Yodchanan Wongsawat (Mahidol University) who partners with Dr.
Manukid Parnichkun of School of Engineering and Technology (SET) at AIT
to conduct research on the topic “Brain-Computer Interface Accident
Prevention and Machine Control : Applications in Fatigue Alarming and
Robot Control”.
(2) Dr. Putchong Uthayopas (Kasetsart University) who partners with
Dr. Kiyoshi Honda of SET (AIT) to conduct research on the topic “The
Application of GPU Technology to Accelerate Geoinformatics
Applications”.
(3) Prof.Dr. Narongrit Sombatsompop (KMUTT) who partners with Prof.
Peter Haddawy of SET (AIT) to conduct research on the topic, “Top 20
ASEAN Universitiy Research Ranking (T20-ASEAN”.
(4) Dr.Rapeepan Pitakaso (Ubonratchathani University) who partners
with Dr. Voratas Kachitvichyanukul (SET) to conduct research on the
topic “Heuristics approach for multi-objectives, multi- echelon
location routing problem: A case study in Bagasses Ethanol Plant
Northeastern of Thailand”.
(5) Dr. Sakoolkan Boonruang (NSTDA -NECTEC) who partners with Dr.
Poompat Saengudomlert (SET) to conduct research on the topic “Creating
Smart Environments Through Indoor Optical Wireless Data Transmissions
Using White-Light LEDs”.
(6) Dr. Monthon Nakpathom ( National Metal and Materials Technology
Center ) who partners with Dr. Pisut Koomsap (SET) to conduct research
on the topic “Development of Automatic Flat Screen Printing
Machine”.
(7) Dr. Sathaporn(Pudit) Laksanacharoen (KMUTNB) who partners with Dr.
Matthew Dailey (SET) to conduct research on “Predator-Prey to Approach
to Suspicious Target Tracking”.
(8) Dr. Thirayoot Limanond (Suranaree University) who partners with
Dr. Hyunmyung Kim (SET) to conduct research on “An agent-based dynamic
simulation model for tour area evaluation”.
(9) Dr. Uma Seeboonruang (KMITLB) who partners Dr. Pham Huy Giao (SET)
to conduct research on “A geoenvironmental-geophysical investigation of
petroleum-contaminated soil at the DonMuang Airport site using
Electrical Imaging Technique “.
(10) Dr. Chayanon hansapinyo (Chiang Mai University) who partners Dr.
Kyung-Ho Park (SET) to conduct research on “Seismic Safety of Earth Dam
in Northern Thailand”.
(11) Dr. Pawadee Methacanon (NSTDA -MTEC) who partners Prof. D.T.
Bergado (SET) to conduct research on “Modified Limited Life Woven
Geotextiles (LLGs) Made of Natural Fibers for Soil Erosion Control and
Soil Reinforcement”.
(12) Dr. Srung Smanmoo (NSTDA -BIOTEC) who partners Dr. Preeda
Parkpian (SERD) to conduct research on “The Development of a
Supersensitive Chemosensor Kit for the Detection of Hg(II) in Aqueous
Environment and in Living Cells”.
(13) Dr.Monthon Ganmanee (KMITLB) who partners Dr. Wenresti G.
Gallardo ( SERD) to conduct research on “Integrated culture of tropical
abalone (Haliotis asinina),seaweed(Ulve sp.), rock oyster (Saccostrea
cuculata) and sea bass (Lates calcarifer) in land-based recirculating
system “.
(14) Dr. Yongyut Trisurat who partners Dr. Rajender Shrestha (SERD) to
conduct research on “Downscaling Global Climate Data for Assessing the
Impact of Climate Change on Dipterocarp Species in Peninsular
Thailand”.
(15) Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vilai Rungsardthong (KMUTNB) who partners Prof.
Athapol Noomhorm (SERD) to conduct research on “Green Composites from
Agro-based Resources and Industrial Byproducts”.
(16) Dr. Rattapon Onchang (Silpakron University) who partners Dr.
Nguyen Thi Kim Oanh (SERD) to conduct research on “Air Quality and
Climate Impacts of Switching to Natural Gas-Fueled Vehicles in
Bangkok”.
AIT President Said Irandoust (sitting in the middle) and Prof. Dr.
Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai (to the right of the AIT President) along with
the research partners and AIT faculty at the signing ceremony of the
RTG Joint Research Program.