WEEK #39: 26 September – 2 October 2016
In this issue:
A. Announcements
(i) Obituary: DR. PRABHAT KUMAR, AIT'S DIRECTOR OF ACISAI
Email from AIT President:
Dear Members of AIT Community,
It is a shocking news to learn that Dr. Prabhat Kumar, Director of AIT's Asian Center of Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture Intensification (ACISAI) and Regional Coordinator of SRI-EC Project, passed away last Saturday night, 17 September 2016, at a hospital in Hyderabad, India.
We have lost an exemplary alumnus and key staff, who has quietly made significant contributions to AIT in the area of Sustainable Agriculture.
Through his belief in "less is more" approach, Dr. Prabhat has brought AIT's ACISAI a € 3.4 million grant from the European Union for a project titled: “Sustaining and Enhancing the Momentum for Innovation and Learning around the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in the Lower Mekong River Basin.” The aim is to introduce a “more intelligent pathway” for cultivating rice in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam through sustainable agriculture development and System of Rice Intensification (SRI).
Personally, Dr. Prabhat has accompanied me on several occasions to specific FAO meetings related to food and agriculture. Before the meetings, he has kindly prepared me the background papers and his professional perspectives on the matters. I feel sad to lose such a fine promising colleague at this relatively young age.
Dr. Prabhat Kumar is an AIT alumnus (Agricultural Systems,1996). He worked as a Research Associate in Agricultural Systems Engineering (ASE) Field of Study from 1996 to 1997 and left AIT to pursue his doctoral degree in Germany. He came back in 2006 as a Research Specialist in ASE Field of Study and became the Director of ACISAI in 2013. He is survived by his wife, also Associate Director of ACISAI, Dr. Abha Mishra and two daughters, Tanvi and Vagisha.
On behalf of AIT Community, I express our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of Dr. Prabhat Kumar.
Yours Sincerely,
Professor Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai
AIT President
(ii ) Condolences – Mother of Mrs. Anushree Pal, AITIS Teacher
The AIT Community would like to express it’s sincere condolences and sympathies to Mrs. Anushree Pal, AIT International School (AITIS) Teacher, and her family on the loss of her mother, Mrs Mira Mondal, on 12 September 2016 in India.
(iii) SET welcomes new Visiting Associate Professor seconded by the Government of India
School of Engineering and Technology welcomes Dr. Ajay K. S. Singholi who joined Industrial Systems Engineering Group as Visiting Associate Professor. He is seconded by the Government of India.
Dr. Ajay K. S. Singholi, an Associate Visiting Professor at Industrial Systems Engineering (ISE) Programme of Asian Institute of Technology, he will be teaching Advanced Manufacturing Processes (AT 73.02) in August 2016 semester.
Dr. Ajay K. S. Singholi received a Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) degree from University School of Engineering and Technology, Indraprastha University, Delhi, India in 2013. His master degree (Masters of Technology) is in Engineering Systems (Manufacturing Systems) from Faculty of Engineering, Dayalbagh University, Agra; 2002. He had completed his bachelor degree of engineering in Mechanical Engineering from Dayalbagh University, Agra, India in the year 2000. He has more than 14 years of experience of teaching UG and PG students in various prestigious universities in India such as Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University, Agra University and Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University Delhi.
He is head of the department (Mechanical and automation engineering) at his parent institute in India i.e. G.B. Pant Government Engineering College, Delhi and also heading the office of training and placements. He was the founding programme coordinator of Master of Technology (Robotics and Automation) programme at Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University of Women, India. He has been involved in various academic activities such as revision of syllabus at UG and PG level, key role in the curriculum committee for MBA programme in “Enterprise Systems” (Weekend) launched by Mechanical and Automation Department in Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University of Women. He is a life member of Indian Institution of Industrial Engineering and Indian Society for Technical Education.
His research interests are:
Advanced manufacturing methods, flexible manufacturing systems, flexibility in manufacturing, automation in manufacturing, mechanical concepts in mechatronics, operations management and related research areas.
He can be contacted at:
Room No.
Tel. No. 0944501034
Email : ajay.igit@gmail.com
(iv) SOM Welcomes new Visiting Associate Professors seconded by the Government of India
School of Management (SOM) welcomes Dr. Veena Bansal and Dr. Siddhartha K. Rastogi, Visiting Associate Professors, who are seconded by the Government of India for the August 2016 semester.
Dr. Veena Bansal, Associate Professor in the Department of Industrial and Management Engineering (IME) at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur where she serves as a full time faculty member since 1999.
Dr. Bansal obtained her PhD in Computer Sc. & Eng. from IIT Kanpur (1999); M.S. from University of Connecticut, USA (1987); and B.E. from Motilal Nehru Regional Engineering College, Allahabad (1984). Her areas of specialization are OCR, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems, Information Systems and their adoption.
Dr. Bansal is particularly proud of an algorithm that she has developed for Devanagari Character Segmentation (published in Pattern Recognition Journal, pp 875-893, (35) 2002). It is still being used by both academic and commercial researchers working with OCR/ICR of Indian scripts. Dr. Bansal’s book ‘Enterprise Resource Planning: A Managerial Perspective, Pearson, 2013’ was written based on her personal experience of implementing ERP systems in the commercial sector. This book has now been chosen as a text book by select universities within India. Her total number of citations is 585, h-index 10 and i-index 13 as per Google Scholar.
Dr. Bansal will teach the course SM80.20 Managing and Implementing Electronic and Mobile Commerce. She can be contacted at Room 234, tel. ext. 6019, emails: veena@ait.asia ; veena@iitk.ac.in .
Dr. Siddhartha K. Rastogi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Economics at Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore, where he serves as a full time faculty member since 2010.
Dr. Rastogi graduated with Fellow Program in Management (Doctoral Title) in Economics from the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad in 2010. He earned a Master of Commerce in Applied Economics (2004) and a Bachelor in Commerce (2002) from the University of Lucknow.
His teaching interests include microeconomics, international economics, public policy, and game theory. His primary research interest is the role of public policy in promotion of trade. His research papers (published/ conference) include streams of economics as diverse as fiscal policy, public policy, sports economics, trade and agriculture, social infrastructure, and development economics. He has published book chapters, journal papers, cases, and newspaper articles. In addition, he has attended several national and international level conferences.
Dr. Rastogi will teach the course SM60.22 Managerial Economics. He can be contacted at Room 240, tel. ext. 5650, emails: srastogi@ait.asia ; srastogi@iimidr.ac.in .
(v) Confirmed Notes AMT 8 September 2016
Please be informed that the confirmed notes of the 8 September 2016 meeting of the AIT Management Team are now Intranet-published at:
http://www.ait.ac.th/management/aitmt-notes/confirmed-notes-aitmt-8-sep-2016.pdf
(vi) Extended library hours during mid-semester exams
During mid-semester exams period, from 19 - 29 September 2016, AIT Library will extend the library hours to one o'clock in the morning every day. The library hours will be as follows.
Monday - Sunday 8.00 a.m. - 1.00 a.m.
(vii) AIT in 2 Minutes Video Contest
Can you tell the AIT story in just two minutes?
Can you narrate the AIT story like no one else?
Can you tell the world what makes AIT so special?
Can you make a crisp video that can cast a spell on the audience?
If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then we invite you to participate in the "AIT 2 Minute Video Contest."
More details about cash prizes and rules are here: http://goo.gl/UpejUU
But remember, only 2 minutes!
Office of Media and Communications
(viii) Call for Abstracts for ‘THA2017: International Conference on Water Management and Climate Change towards Asia's Water -Energy-Food Nexus’
AIT is co-organizing ‘THA2017: International Conference on Water Management and Climate Change towards Asia's Water -Energy-Food Nexus’ on 25-27 January, 2017 Bangkok, Thailand. Please refer to the following announcement for details.
Call for Abstracts:
THA2017: International Conference on Water Management and Climate Change towards Asia's Water -Energy-Food Nexus
25-27 January, 2017
Bangkok, Thailand
THA2017 aims to provide a platform for researchers, scientists, practitioners, and policy makers to share and present new advances, research findings, perspectives, and experiences in Disaster, Irrigation and Water Management towards Water-Energy-Food Nexus (WEF). The conference will bring together leading researchers, engineers, scientists, and officials in the domain of interest from around the world.
THA2017 has four themes: Climate Change and Uncertainty in Hydrology and Meteorology, b) Participatory Management for Water and Irrigation Project, c) Emerging Technologies in Water Management and Environment Towards Nexus (WEF) and d) Disaster Management/ Groundwater Management
All the interested participants are invited to submit an abstract and/or paper to tha2017conference@gmail.com by 30 September, 2016. For more details please visit the conference website: http://www.tha2017.org/Home_list.asp
(ix) EURAXESS ASEAN Flashnotes - Latest Funding and Career Opportunities for AIT Researchers
The Office of External Relations (OEXR) has announced a number of attractive opportunities for researchers which are presented in the latest EURAXESS ASEAN flash notes.
Topics:
1) United Kingdom - Newton Fund Institutional Links Programme. Thailand and Vietnam Eligible
2) EMBO Short-Term Fellowships Open to Researchers in ASEAN. 3 month Research Visits to Labs in Europe and Elsewhere. Rolling Deadline.
3) Germany - Humboldt Incoming Fellowships for researchers at different stages in their careers. ASEAN Researchers Eligible. Rolling Deadline.
4) Advice on applying to funding schemes by Dr Claire McNulty, Director Science and Research, British Council
8) Spain: InterTalentum Research Fellowships. Call Now Open. ASEAN Researchers Eligible. Deadline 30 September, 2016
10) European Research Council Starting Grants. Call Now Open. Researchers from ASEAN Eligible. Deadline 18 October, 2016
11) Italy – Jean Monnet Fellowships. ASEAN Researchers Eligible. Deadline 25 October, 2016
12) List of European Institutions Interested in Hosting Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
13) United Kingdom: Training Fellowships in Public Health and Tropical Medicine. ASEAN Researchers Eligible. Deadline 28 November, 2016
Check out:
Sign up to EURAXESS Links ASEAN here:
http://ec.europa.eu/euraxess/links/singapore/index_en.html
For more details, please contact Director of Office of External Relations (OEXR) at email: shawnpk@ait.asia
(x) Scholarships for Summer School, 3-8 October 2016 at Ateneo de Manila University Philippines (ADMU)
Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines and Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing (IWR), Heidelberg University, Germany, are jointly organizing a summer school in Manila, Philippines from 3-8 October 2016.
The Summer School brings together experts from Germany and the Philippines to lecture on various topics of Scientific Computing.
Main topics for Summer School on Applied Mathematics and Scientific Computing are “Partial Differential Equations with application in Environmental Physics”.
Tentative list of speakers:
1) Prof. Peter Bastian, Numerical Methods for Environmental Physics
2) Prof. Kurt Roth, Environmental Physics
3) Prof. Thomas Richter, Numerics for Finite Element Methods http://hgs.iwr.uni-heidelberg.de/events/site3/
There are 10 reserved slots for non-Philippine students. A maximum of two beneficiaries maybe selected from AIT.
The full scholarship package includes:
- flight cost
- all local costs from 2 – 9 Oct. 2016
To participate in the summer school:
http://hgs.iwr.uni-heidelberg.de/events/site3/participation
For application for support scholarships:
http://hgs.iwr.uni-heidelberg.de/events/site3/participation
B. Events and Happenings
(I) Events
(a) Osotspa Plant Tour: 19 Oct. 2016
SU External Affairs invites current AIT students to join its special field trip to Osotspa, the brand owner of M-150 and Shark energy drink. Their businesses are expanding world wide more than 15 countries across Asia and West coast. Osotspa factory is located in Ayuthaya province. Students will have the opportunity to experience 3D e-learning and visit the glass bottle manufacturing together with drink filling processes.
Faculty and staff members are also welcome to join. However, priority will be provided for students.
Deposit : 50 THB per person refundable on event date.
Date Wednesday, 19 October 2016
Bus leave from Lawson at 11.45 am
Tentative returning time to AIT is 5.30 pm
Dress code : Business Smart casual. (Sandal and slipper are not allowed) For safety reasons, long sleep shirt is preferred.
Limited only 50 seats
Online registration deadline: Friday 23rd September 2016
Announcement for candidates and waiting lists : 24th September 2016
Confirm your reservation and payment 26-28 September 2016 with your AIT ID card
http://www.osotspa-international.com/en/
(b) AIT Fun and Sports Day on 2 December 2016
AIT Fun and Sports Day will be organized by Human Resources Office on 2 December 2016.
The AIT Community is requested to please mark their calendar and make themselves available for this whole day event. There will be games, raffle draw and a sumptuous lunch together.
So watch out for announcements for more details.
(ii) EXHIBITION
(a) AIT Career Fair & Research Exhibition: 2 Nov. 2016
AIT Career Fair & Research Exhibition will be organized by the AIT Career Center on 2 November 2016 from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the AIT Conference Center.
CAREER TALKS to be held soon:
¤ CV & Interview Workshop on 21 September (Wed, 4:00 – 5:30 pm, Milton E. Bender Auditorium)
Mark your calendar! For developments and career opportunities, drop by at: www.careercenter.ait.asia
or like: https://www.facebook.com/officialaitcareercenter/
or email: careercenter@ait.asia
or contact us via phone: 662 524-6744, 662 524-6326
(iii) LECTURES / SEMINARS / CONFERENCES
(a) Lecture on “The Impact of Climate Change on Invasive Weeds: An Agronomic Perspective”: 26 Sept. 2016
Food, Agriculture and Bio Systems (FABS) Cluster, SERD, will organize a lecture on “The Impact of Climate Change on Invasive Weeds: An Agronomic Perspective” by Professor Nihat Tursun of Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Inonu, TURKEY.
Date: Monday, 26 September 2016
Time: 3:00-4:00 PM
Venue: AFE Building, Room Number: A216
ABSTRACT
Invasive weeds are weedy species, usually non-native for a given region, whose introduction results in wide-spread environmental or species degradation. Data suggest that the link between global warming and the spread of an invasive species may be real, not hypothetical. As climate and CO2 change, invasive weed populations will also change. The pertinent questions are:
a) How will climate and CO2 alter competition between native and invasive plants?
b) How can we manage invasive species (C3 and C4) in the future?
(b) Seminar on “Writing & Publishing Research Paper”
SU Academic will organize a seminar on “Writing & Publishing Research Paper” as follows:
Speaker: Dr. Peeyush Soni, Associate Professor in the School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD).
Date: 07 October 2016
Time: 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Venue: Milton Bender Auditorium
Attendance at the Seminar is free of charge.
To register, please fill in the form below.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSehwvUNd73_N9bkUfmEuN90pBkLPOjZXHM__IEX_Epxqs-48w/viewform
(c) Design of Tall Buildings: Trends and Advancements for Structural Performance: 7 – 9 Nov. 2016 (seminar) and 10 - 12 Nov. 2016 (workshop)
AIT Solutions will organize the “Design of Tall Buildings: Trends and Advancements for Structural Performance” Seminar and Workshop from 7 – 9 November and 10 – 12 November 2016, respectively.
The event will provide participants with an insight to the new developments in tall building design, innovative structural systems for better performance and in-depth understanding of structural behavior and highlight the value of wind tunnel test, probabilistic seismic hazard assessment, peer reviews and performance-based design. It also will focus on hands on understanding of modeling and analysis.
(d) 11th GMSARN International Conference 2016: 16 – 18 Nov. 2016
The 11th Greater Mekong Sub-region Academic and Research Network (GMSARN) International Conference 2016 will be held from 16-18 November 2016 in Kunming, China.
The conference brochure is available at: http://www.ait.ac.th/news-and-events/2016/events/gmsarnbrochure.pdf
More details are available at the GMSARN website at: http://www.gmsarn.com/conference2016/
(iv) COURSES
(a) Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation Course: 17 Oct – 28 Oct. 2016
AIT Extension will organize a course, “Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation” from 17 Oct 2016 - 28 Oct 2016.
Please look for details from the link: http://extension.ait.ac.th/course/57
To apply please go to: http://extension.ait.ac.th/content/online-application?nid=57&cname=Project+Management%2C+Monitoring+and+Evaluation&fromd=17+Oct+2016&tod=28+Oct+2016
(b) Training Course on "Accounting for Carbon Emission Reductions and Removals through REDD+ Activities": 27 Nov. – 4 Dec. 2016
Natural Resources Management Field of Study, School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD) will organize a training course on "Accounting for Carbon Emission Reductions and Removals through REDD+ Activities" on 27 November – 4 December 2016 at the AIT conference center.
For more information, please see:
http://www.nrm.ait.asia/specialprograms/training/
Closing: 30 September 2016
C. Campus Updates
(i) Commencement of Chalerm Prakiat (ISE) Building’s brick walkway repair
Please be informed that the contractor will begin the repair of Chalerm Prakiat (ISE) Building’s brick walkway on Monday, 19 September 2016.
The estimated period of repair is 1 month. In order to commence the repair, the whole brick walkway in front of the building will be closed.
Students, faculty, staff and visitors of ISE building can access the building through the alternate way. TM will provide the signage to show the alternate directions.
Begin Date: Monday, 19 September 2016
Expected Completion Date: 18 October 2016
D. Visitors
• Delegation from the AIT Alumni Association (Thailand), led by Mr. Manat Supasirilux, Executive Secretary, AITAA Thailand and Managing Director, Phanat Engineering and Construction Management Co., Ltd., and Mr. Paitoon Jiranantarat, Managing Director, Siam Yamato Steel Co., Ltd. / 28 Sept. 2016 / to present traffic cones to AIT for cooperation of activity “Bike to share for love and back to old school AIT”.
E. Faculty and Staff Travel
Miss Soe Soe Htway and Miss Aye Sandar Phyo / Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar / 19 September – 3 October 2016
Dr. Naveed Anwar / Cebu, Philippines / 22 – 24 September 2016*
Mr. Thaung Htut Aung / Cebu, Philippines / 22 – 24 September 2016*
Dr. Anil Kumar Anal / Yangon, Myanmar / 22 – 25 September 2016*
Dr. B.H.W. Hadikusumo / Vietnam and Myanmar / 22 September – 3 October 2016
Prof. Nguyen Thi Kim Oanh / Colorado, USA / 23 September – 1 October 2016
Dr. K. R. Salin / Beijing and Urumqi, China / 24 – 28 September 2016
Prof. Nitin K. Tripathi / Urumqi, China / 24 – 29 September 2016
Dr. Shabhakar Dhakal / Nepal / 24 September – 1 October 2016
Dr. Harsha Abeykoon / Victoria, Austria / 24 September – 2 October 2016
Mr. Sanjeev Pradeep Jayasinghe / Victoria, Australia / 24 September – 2 October 2016
Dr. Masahiko Nagai / Pathumthani, Thailand / 25 September – 2 October 2016
Prof. Kyoko Kusakabe / Colombo, Sri Lanka / 25 – 30 September 2016
Dr. Md. Zakir Hossain / Chonburi, Thailand / 28 September – 2 October 2016
Ms. Phyo Sin / Chonburi, Thailand / 28 September - 2 October 2016
Mr. Tharakhorn Chanlapa / Melbourne and Sidney, Australia / 28 September – 5 October 2016
Ms. Sweet Mae Monteclaro / Colombo, Sri Lanka / 30 September – 3 October 2016
Dr. Victor Shinde / Nakhon Phanom, Thailand / 1 – 2 October 2016
Ms. Anyamanee Onsomkrit / Nakhon Phanom, Thailand / 1 – 2 October 2016
Ms. A. Thedini Asali Peiris / Nakhon Phanom, Thailand / 1 – 2 October 2016
*(Staff or faculty member travelled and returned to AIT prior to documentation received for publication)
F. Classifieds (Jobs)
Position: Assistant / Associate Professor (School of Environment, Resources & Development)
Ref. No. 01/16
Deadline: 30 September 2016
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/380
Position: Internal Auditor (President's Office)
Ref. No. 33/16
Deadline: 30 September 2016
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/390
Position: Library Assistant (AIT Library )
Ref. No. 17/16
Deadline: 15 October 2016
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/373
Faculty Position (Assistant/Associate Professor) (School of Environment, Resources & Development)
Ref. No. Fac 2/16
Deadline: 31 October 2016
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/397
Faculty Position (Assistant/Associate Professor) in Food Engineering and Bioprocess Technology (School of Environment, Resources and Development)
Ref. No. Fac 3/16
Deadline: 31 October 2016
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/398
Faculty Position (Assistant/Associate Professor) - IME (School of Engineering & Technology)
Ref. No. Fac 4/16
Deadline: 31 October 2016
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/400
Position: Program Associate/Senior Program Associate (School of Environment, Resources & Development)
Ref. No. 41/16
Deadline: 15 November 2016
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/401