New batch is a unique global microcosm

Belt and Road Initiative will unleash global transformations: Expert

AIT signs agreement with China Science Map-University Technology Company

Deputy PM admires AIT's autonomous stair climbing wheelchair

Two million THB donation by GMS Power and White Group

AIT signs agreement for construction of AITCC Annexe

Photo Gallery of AIT Orientation

AIT strengthens partnership with Kurita

Linking Science, Policy and Society for a Sustainable Future

Innovative solutions to contemporary problems in Hackathon

1,000 people sport the AIT photo frame

Coming up

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New batch is a unique global microcosm

Ever since its inception in 1959, the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) has been a microcosm of the entire world, and 4 August 2017 was no exception. The incoming batch of August 2017 has students ranging from Canada to Fiji, and from Ecuador to Japan, representing virtually all corners of the world.

As students from all over assembled at the AIT landmark for their first group photograph, they joined the larger AIT family that boasts of a global footprint spread across 101 countries. The latest batch of AIT students comes from 33 countries and they hail from Oceania, Asia, Europe, Africa, and North & South America. AIT is also proud to welcome its first students from Costa Rica and Ecuador.

“AIT’s role has changed over the past few decades,” President Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai told the incoming batch. While AIT focused on the development of the region during its early days, today AIT is a platform for global collaboration, Prof. Worsak said. A lot has changed since AIT was founded in 1959 - geopolitically, economically and socially. But one thing has not changed - no other institute in the world can duplicate what AIT has achieved, he added. “Our role is to prepare globally responsible citizens,” the AIT President said as he pointed out that the Institute focuses on innovation and tackling global issues for sustainable future of mankind.

Belt and Road Initiative will unleash global transformations: Expert

From left: Prof. Feng Da-Hsuan, Mr. Suthichai Yoon, and Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai.

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) can unleash three global transformations including the idea of an Asia-Europe supercontinent, the emergence of neo-renaissance, and a massive upsurge in cultural communications. Further, BRI is an attempt by China to redefine the meaning of a powerful nation. Stating this, Prof. Feng Da-Hsuan, Director of Global Affairs and Special Advisor to Rector of University of Macau (UMacau) stated that with BRI, China can reinvent itself and make the world a better place for generations to come.

Delivering the AIT Public Lecture 2017 on “Supercontinent, Neo-Renaissance, and Cultural Communication: Millennium Mindset Transformation induced by the Belt and Road Initiative,” Prof. Feng began by shattering the myths of continental boundaries. “The separation of Asia and Europe is artificial,” Prof. Feng said, adding that though the delineation is deep rooted, BRI can break this mindset. The emergence of a supercontinent aided by connectivity facilitated by BRI would then induce a neo-renaissance, he added.

These challenges and transformations will impart a fresh impetus to cultural communications. Moderating the discussion was Suthichai Yoon of the Nation Multimedia Group, who critiqued the presentation, and invited the audience to join the discussion. Earlier, Dr. Subin Pinkayan, Chairman, AIT Board of Trustees, welcomed Prof. Feng and Suthichai. AIT President Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, while thanking the panelists stated that this would count among the best AIT Public Lectures organized by AIT in the past two decades.

AIT signs agreement with China Science Map-University Technology Company

Dr. Liu Rei (left) and Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai.

AIT signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the China Science Map-University Technology Company (MAPUNI) for academic and research collaboration. The MoU was signed by Dr. Liu Rei, Vice President, China Science Map-University Technology, and AIT President Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai on 18 August 2017.

The MoU entails the development of a joint proposal for the construction of a laboratory under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Project cooperation includes big data construction of Mekong River Basin Water Resource Management. MAPUNI focuses on enterprise-university research integration and it provides an industrial outreach on Geographical Information Systems and Remote Sensing technology applications of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

Deputy PM admires autonomous stair climbing wheelchair

Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Prajin Juntong at the AIT exhibit.

Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand Dr. Prajin Juntong was among the dignitaries who admired the Autonomous Stair Climbing Wheelchair which was presented at the Thailand Research Expo 2017.

The wheelchair, which has been prepared at AIT’s Advanced Robotics Laboratory by Prof. Manukid Parnichkun, was a prominent display at the premier research event held between 23-27 August 2017. Produced with support from the Health Systems Research Institute (HSRI), the wheelchair demonstration was presented to the Deputy Prime Minister by AIT researcher Mr. Warawut Suvalai.

According to Prof. Manukid, “The mobile wheelchair automatically reaches the destination by navigating the path, once the user provides the destination.”

Two million THB donation by GMS Power and White Group

David L Michaels (left) and Somchai Chaisuparakul.

GMS Power and White Group have donated one million THB each to AIT to support research in the power sector. Managing Director of GMS Power David L Michaels, and President of White Group Public Co. Ltd. Somchai Chaisuparakul handed over a cheque of 1 million THB each to AIT President Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai on 1 August 2017.

Dr. Subin Pinkayan, Chairman, AIT Board of Trustees, Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, President, AIT, Prof. Weerakorn Ongsakul of Energy, and Prof. Louis Hornyak of Nanotechnology attended the donation ceremony held at the AIT library.

AIT signs agreement for construction of AITCC Annexe

Agreement signing ceremony.

AIT has two signed two agreements with Shinki International Company and SCG-Sekisui Sales Co Ltd for the construction of a new AIT Conference Center Annexe. The agreement was signed by AIT President Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai with Mr, Kimihito Miki, President, Shinkin International Company and Mr. Masaya Fujiwara, MD, SCG-Sekisui Sales on 30 August 2017.

At the agreement signing ceremony, AIT was represented by Prof. Worsak, Wanchai Sophonsakulrat, Director, Office of Facilities and Assets Management, Mrs.Chalita Lertwinyu, Director, Office of Host Country Relations, Pakkamol Dherapongsthada, Director, Office of Procurement, Inventory, and Assets and Ms.Thitima Olarikabutr, Campus Architect.

The project to build a 20-room extension of the AITCC was approved by the AIT Board of Trustees on its meeting held on 20 July 2017. The SCG-HEIM-SHINKI group was selected to invest in the new annexe and they will use the SCG-Heim prefabricated housing technology providing superior rooms and facilities to AITCC users. It is expected to generate an additional income for repayment of this investment in a 12-year duration with an internal rate return of 7.15 per cent.

Photo Gallery of AIT Orientation

AIT strengthens partnership with Kurita

From left: Mr. Takefumi Shimoda, Prof. Kazuo Yamamoto, Mr. Ang Raksmey, Mr. Nandana H.S.M. Premarathna, Ms. Oum Somaly and Mr. Toshiyuki Nakai.

From left: Mr. Michiya Kadota, Dr. Motoyuki Suzuki, Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai and Mr. Toshiyuki Nakai.

AIT and Kurita have strengthened their partnership, with two events in August exemplifying a sustained partnership between academia and the industry.

Mr. Toshiyuki Nakai, President, Kurita Water and Environment Foundation (KWEF) presented the Kurita Scholarship Certificates to three students of AIT on 16 August 2017. Ms. Oum Somaly (Cambodia) of Natural Resources Management, Mr. Nandana H.S.M. Premarathna (Sri Lanka) of Environmental Engineering and Management, and Mr. Ang Raksmey (Cambodia) of Water Engineering and Management received the scholarship certificates.

Mr. Takefumi Shimoda, President of Kurita-Gk Chemical Co., Ltd.; Prof. Yoshimasa Watanabe, Professor, Chuo University; Mr. Nopporn Tia, Director, Kurita-Gk Chemical Co., Ltd.; Mr. Masa-aki Wakita, General Secretary, KWEF; Prof. Kazuo Yamamoto, AIT’s Vice President for Administration; Prof. C. Visvanathan, Dr. Sangam Shrestha, Dr. Nophea Sasaki, Mr. Shawn P. Kelly, and Ms. Sumana Shrestha attended the event.

AIT also participated in the twentieth-anniversary celebrations of KWEF that was held in Tokyo on 25 August 2017. In his congratulatory speech, AIT President Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai complimented KWEF for its stellar achievements during the past two decades. Prof. Worsak thanked KWEF for its generous financial and technical support to young researchers who are working towards a sustainable future of mankind - a mission, which he said AIT shares with KWEF. He pointed out that Prof. Kazuo Yamamoto also serves as a Board Member of KWEF.

Linking Science, Policy and Society for a Sustainable Future

Dr. Kazuhiko Takeuchi

The vision for a sustainable society in Japan integrates three aspects of a sustainable society-a low carbon society, a sound material-cycle society, and a society which is in harmony with nature. This formed the basis of a special lecture on “Sustainability Science: Linking Science, Policy and Society for a Sustainable Future” delivered by Dr. Kazuhiko Takeuchi, Chair of the Board of Directors, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), on 17 August 2017.

Quoting the increase in the number of academic papers on sustainability science, Dr. Takeuchi pointed out that the upsurge in research came after 1990. Plotting the trends of sustainability research, he stated that while the initial focus was on sustainable development, sustainability research now covers a larger spectrum and focuses on environmental and social systems, economy and business systems, as well as energy systems.Elaborating on sustainability science as an academic background for FutureEarth, he described the pathway for implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with a sustainability science approach.

Innovative solutions to contemporary problems in Hackathon

Dr. Naveed Anwar at the Hackathon: Sensors Challenge.

Enabling a smart, safe and sustainable world using sensors was the theme of Hackathon: Sensors Challenge organized by AIT Solutions on 2-3 August 2017.According to Dr. Naveed Anwar, Executive Director, AIT Solutions, “The event sought to capture innovative ideas that use sensor technology to offer solutions to local and global issues.”

The winner was Dhaval Bamaniya who proposed “Digital Blue e-Aqua Sense Drone Technology for Next Generation Aquaculture: Food Security with Sustainable Intelligence.” The second prize was won by a team of P. Hima Bindhu, N. Tejasri, G. Praveen, V. Sandeep who proposed “Digital Fuel Measurement with Fraud Detection and Theft Security.” Saif Lakhani, Looi Chee Kean, and Asmita of IIIT, India, and Teknologi Petronas, Malaysia won the third prize for suggesting a “Powerful Crop Health Imaging Next-Gen.”

1,000 people sport the AIT photo frame

Close to 1,000 people used the AIT photo frame while updating Facebook profile. Here is a small sample.

Coming up

Golden Jubilee of Southeast Asian Geotechnical Society: 14-15 September 2017

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Editor: Bajinder Pal Singh bajinder@ait.ac.th

Photos:

Paitoon Tinnapong

Samphat Semathong

Feedback: Contact Office of Media and Communications omco@ait.ac.th

Table of Contents

New batch is a unique global microcosm

Belt and Road Initiative will unleash global transformations: Expert

AIT signs agreement with China Science Map-University Technology Company

Deputy PM admires AIT's autonomous stair climbing wheelchair

Two million THB donation by GMS Power and White Group

AIT signs agreement for construction of AITCC Annexe

Photo Gallery of AIT Orientation

AIT strengthens partnership with Kurita

Linking Science, Policy and Society for a Sustainable Future

Innovative solutions to contemporary problems in Hackathon

1,000 people sport the AIT photo frame

Coming up

Follow AIT

QR for download

Credits