Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai appointed Interim President

Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, Vice President for Resource Development and Acting President, has been appointed Interim President of the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT). The decision was made by the AIT Board of Trustees at a meeting on 20 June 2013, and was announced to the public on 1 July 2013.

Prof. Worsak had served as Acting AIT President since 1 April 2013. He also served as Acting President from 13 February - 3 March 2013. An alumnus of AIT, Prof. Worsak has served AIT as As-sistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor, Dean of School of Civil Engineering, Founding Dean of SET, and Vice President for Resource Development.

Please visit Prof. Worsak’s biodata from this link: http://www.ait.ac.th/news-and-events/2013/news/worsak_biodata.pdf/view#.UdE87T6OBhp

Prof. Kanchana inducted into the Internet Hall of Fame

Prof. Kanchana Kanchanasut

Affectionately nicknamed the “Mother of the Internet in Thailand” for her pioneering work, Prof. Kanchana Kanchanasut of AIT on 26 June 2012 was inducted into the global Internet Hall of Fame by the Internet Society based in Geneva, Switzerland.

Prof. Kanchana was the first Thai person to introduce electronic mail and the Internet to Thailand. She is the first Thai person to be inducted into the Internet Hall of Fame.

The Internet Hall of Fame recognizes a select group of visionaries, leaders, and luminaries who have made significant contributions to the development and advancement of the global Internet. Inductees are honored in three categories: Pioneers Circle, Innovators, and Global Connectors.

Prof. Kanchana joins previous inductees such as Dr. Vint Cerf, and Dr. Steve Crocker in the Pioneer Circle category, which recognizes individuals instrumental in the early design and development of the Internet. Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore and Dr. Tim Berners-Lee are also notable Hall of Fame inductees.

Thailand’s connection to the Internet started 25 years ago at AIT with “AIT.TH”

Prof. Kanchana Kanchanasut (center) and Dr. Steve Crocker (second, right) with Prime Minister of Thailand Yingluck Shinawatra.

Twenty-five years ago, Thailand was connected to the Internet for the first time at AIT. In the late 1980s AIT was a key hub for the early development of the Internet in Thailand, and was the site of the country’s first email.

In June 1988, AIT’s Professor Kanchana Kanchanasut successfully registered the Internet top-level domain name “.TH”, a move that ushered the country into the world of

the nascent Internet. For the first time, email addresses were possible for members of the academic community in Thailand through dial-up accounts to “ait.th”.

By mid-1988, Prof. Kanchana received authorization to oversee providing domain name registration services under “.TH”. The domain name was registered by AIT for an experimental network called the Thai Computer Science Network (TCSnet). Through the support of the Australian International Development Agency, ACSnet software enabled AIT to connect with Prince of Songkla University, Chulalongkorn University, and Thammasat University.

The domain name registration task was jointly provided by AIT and Chulalongkorn University until 1999, when newly formed Thai Network Information Center Foundation

(THNIC) took over. Today .TH remains the Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for the country, and is administered by THNIC.

AIT to partner in UNEP’s Climate Technology Centre and Network

AIT will partner in the UNEP-led Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN), which has been created following a meeting of the Governing Council of the United

Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) held in February 2013.

The consortium is led by UNEP and includes UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), along with 11 international research and development bodies, including

AIT. CTCN will be the implementing arm of the Technology Mechanism of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Discussing this and other modalities at the first Regional Expert Dialogue in Bangkok were AIT’s Dr. Shobhakar Dhakal and Dr. Kyoko Kusakabe. “AIT will be honored to

be a partner and it offers an opportunity for the Institute to play a lead role in helping countries adopt new technology mechanisms,” Prof. Sivanappan Kumar, AIT’s Acting

Vice President for Academic Affairs said. Prof. Kumar added CTCN has only two partners in Asia – AIT and TERI in India.

AIT bags USAID project on Agricultural Learning Exchange

AIT has been awarded a USD 899,000 grant by the United States Agency for International Development/Regional Development Mission for Asia (USAID/ RDMA) for implementing a program to enhance food security and livelihood in Bangladesh, Cambodia and Nepal. The three-year collaborative project involves 13 partners from five countries in Asia, namely Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Nepal and Thailand.

The program, is a part of the USAID program “The Agricultural Learning Exchange for Asian Regional Networking (AgLEARN).” The project also aims to establish

a virtual ‘Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Agriculture Practices and Food Security’ at AIT with a multidisciplinary team of AIT researchers and partner institutions capable for long-term contribution to enhance food security in the region.

Prof. Gopal B. Thapa of RRDP is the principal investigator of the project, and other members of the project include Prof. Ganesh P. Shivakoti, Dr. Peeyush Soni, and

Dr. Avishek Datta from ASE academic program.

SPS Global to offer scholarship and interships to AIT

Mr. Soontorn Pironsartkoon (left) and Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai.

SPS Global Corporation, a company established by an alumnus of the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), has announced the award of a scholarship of USD 8000 to

a bright and needy student to pursue a Master’s program at AIT’s School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD).

The formal agreement to award the scholarship was signed on 28 June 2013 by Managing Director of SPS Global Corporation, Dr. Soontorn Pironsartkoon, and the

AIT Acting President, Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai. Besides the scholarship, the company is besides exploring internship opportunities for students of AIT’s School

of Engineering and Technology (SET) and SERD.

AIT to promote Habitech Building Technology in Africa

Dr. Elizabeth Bola Ogunlana (left) and Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai.

AIT will promote Habitech Building Technology in Nigeria and other countries in Africa following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Elim Project Systems Limited (EPSL), Scotland, UK.

The MoU was signed on 17 June 2013 by Dr. Elizabeth Bola Ogunlana, Director and CEO of (EPSL), and Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, Acting President of AIT. Besides promoting Habitech building technology, both parties will also develop joint proposals for submission to prospective funding agencies to facilitate the provision of decent and affordable housing in Africa.

The MoU also stipulates joint collaborative research projects and joint training courses. Prof. Stephen Olu Ogunlana, former faculty of Structural Engineering in AIT’s School of Engineering and Technology (SET) and Mr. Gyanendra R Sthapit, Interim Director, Habitech Center, SET attended the MoU signing ceremony.

Don Bosco University signs MoU  with AIT

Dr. Stephen Mavely (left) with Prof. Sivannapan Kumar.

Don Bosco University, Assam, India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AIT aimed at formalizing a Unified Bachelors-Masters degree program.

Signing the MoU, Vice Chan-cellor of Don Bosco University (DBU) Dr. Stephen Mavely stated that both Don Bosco are AIT are reputed brand names, and the partnership will help both parties.

The MoU was signed on 7 June 2013 by Dr. Mavely, and AIT Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs, Prof. Sivanappan Kumar. Dr. Mavely stated that besides the Unified program, Don Bosco University is also looking towards faculty and staff exchange, and joint research collaboration.

Accompanying the delegation was AIT alumnus Dr. Sunandan Baruah, Head of Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, DBU.

AIT alumnus Prof. Yew-Chaye Loo made Member of the Order of Australia

Professor Yew-Chaye Loo

AIT alumnus and former seconded faculty member Professor Yew-Chaye Loo of Griffith University, Australia, has been named to The Queen’s Birthday 2013 Honours List and will be made a Member of the Order of Australia, one of his country’s highest civilian honours. Prof. Loo was named for his significant service to civil and structural engineering.

Originally from Malaysia, Yew-Chaye Loo graduated from AIT in 1968 with a Master of Engineering in Structural Engineering and Construction from the School of Civil Engineering. Prof. Loo was also a Seconded Associate Professor to AIT from 1981-1984.

Scholarships and Fellowships available at AIT

His Majesty the King’s Scholarships

For students enrolling in any field of study offered at AIT to enhance professional training and international cooperation.

Her Majesty the Queen’s Scholarships

For students enrolling in any environment related field of study, to instill a consciousness of environmental resilience and awareness for the region.

Loom Nam Khong Pijai

The Loom Nam Khong Pijai Scholarships are granted by the Royal Thai Government in honor of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. It aims to assist human resource development in six GMS countries.

New AIT Fellowship Scheme

The New AIT Fellowship Scheme is intended to provide more opportunities for students from across the region to study at AIT. A new era is approaching with the coming ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015, and AIT aims to play a key role by developing the next generation of international engineers, scientists, and managers.

For details visit: http://www.ait.ac.th/AIT/admissions/Current_Scholarships

Condolences

Mr. Benjamin A. Gargabite,Coordinator, Admissionsand Scholarships Unit, AITpassed away suddenly on 23June 2013. An AIT alumnus,he completed his Master’s

in Human Settlements Development in 1986

Farewell

Prof. Kazi M. Ahmed (left) and Prof. Sivanappan Kumar.

AIT says farewell to Prof. Kazi M. Ahmed, Professor, School of Engineering and Technology (SET), Telecommunications Field of Study; Mr. Matthew Lazewski, Director, AIT Language Center and Mr. Warawut Sawartsuk, Senior Technician, School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD), Agricultural Systems Engineering

(ASE) field of study. Prof . Kazi joined AIT in 1994, while Mr. Lazewski served AIT since 1998 (second stint). Mr. Sawartsuk has been serving AIT since 1978.

ICANN Chairman commends intERLab’s work as “very impressive”

Dr. Steve Crocker

Visiting AIT and Thailand for the first time, Chairman of the Board of Internet Coporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), Dr. Steve Crocker, described the work done by AIT’s intERLab as “very impressive” and exciting.

“The work and the training programs are wonderful,” the visionary Internet guru remarked during his visit to AIT on 5 June 2013. Meeting the Acting President Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, he stated that Prof. Kanchana Kanchanasut was a “very highly regarded” person who was known throughout the world. Expressing admiration for Prof. Kanchana, AIT’s Acting Vice President for Research and the Director of the Internet Education and Research Laboratory (intERLab), Dr. Crocker also commended her team’s work at intERLab. Dr. Crocker, who has been involved in the Internet since its inception, was part of the team that developed the protocols for the ARPANET and laid the foundation for today’s Internet. Dr. Crocker was accompanied by John Crain, ICANN’s Senior Director, Security, Stability and Resilience.

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Coming Up

AIT Technology Event

Date: 10-11 July 2013

Venue: InterContinental Bangkok Hotel

For details, please visit: http://www.consulting.ait.asia/TechEventMain.aspx

The Asian Institute of Technology is staging its inaugural AIT Technology Event in downtown Bangkok to share its latest technological advancements directly with industry. AIT scientists, experts and thought leaders will engage business leaders and explore mutually beneficial opportunities at the two-day event at the Intercontinental Hotel Bangkok on 10-11 July 2013.

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Editor: Bajinder Pal Singh bajinder@ait.asia

Photos: Paitoon Tinnapong

Contact: Media and Communications Unit at AIT mcu@ait.asia