WEEK # 5, 29 January - 4 February 2024

In this issue:

A. Announcements

B. Workshops/ Conferences

C. Visitors/ MoU/ Agreement Signing

D. Faculty & Staff Travel

E. Classified (Job)

A. Announcement

1) Launch of the Know our Researcher series

Email from AIT President on 25 January 2024.

It's my pleasure to inform you of the launch of “Know our Researcher @ AIT” series. This publication is a quarterly series that has been initiated to highlight and promote AIT’s pioneering and innovative research and capacity building engagements undertaken by its Researchers across the Schools and Centers of excellence.

This series aims to make the AIT community and its external stakeholders aware of the diverse array of quality research being undertaken at the Institute by its reputed researchers.

The inaugural edition: features Prof. Avishek Datta, Professor and Head Department of Food, Agriculture and Bioresources School of Environment, Resources and Development.

Visit the Web link: https://ait.ac.th/know-our-researcher/

2) Last day to apply tomorrow: Online Competition | Innovate for Impact: Solutions to Combat Plastic Pollution in Rivers and Canals

ONLINE COMPETITION Deadline to apply 30 January 2024

Innovate for Impact: Solutions to Combat Plastic Pollution in Rivers and Canals
Hey changemakers! Do you have a groundbreaking solution to tackle plastic pollution in our rivers and canals? We want you to join our online competition and make a difference!

Form a team of 2-3 members, including at least 1 student, and showcase your creativity in developing a product, process, or service that puts an end to the plastic flow into our oceans. This is a critical issue, and your innovative solutions can be the game-changer we need.

Prizes:

Grand Winner: $1,500
Runner-up: $500

Judging Criteria:

Creativity and Innovation (30%)
Impact and Scalability (30%)
Team Composition (20%)
Clarity of Presentation/Pitch (20%)

Form your team and get ready to pitch your solution. Register here before 30 January.

Important Dates:
Application deadline: 30 January
Shortlisted teams notified by: 8 February
Competition date: 15 February via Zoom

Register Now
Organized by:
Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)

Supported by:
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

For inquiries, email us at entrepreneurship@ait.ac.th

3) Invitation to "Sustainable Entrepreneurship: Empowering the Youth" Seminar on 30th January 2024

Email from the Entrepreneurship Center on 22 January 2024

We are thrilled to extend an invitation to you for our upcoming event, "Sustainable Entrepreneurship: Empowering the Youth," scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 30th January 2024, at the AIT Entrepreneurship Center Creator Space.

Event Details

Date: Tuesday, 30th January 2024

Time: 13:00 – 17:00

Venue: AIT Entrepreneurship Center Creator Space

"Sustainable Entrepreneurship: Empowering the Youth" is not just an event; it is an inspiring half-day seminar meticulously crafted to ignite the flame of entrepreneurship among today's youth, all while placing a strong emphasis on the principles of sustainability.

In this dynamic gathering, our primary goal is to bridge the gap between ambition and action. We are committed to providing the youth with invaluable insights gleaned from accomplished professionals who have seamlessly integrated sustainability into their entrepreneurial journeys. Through engaging discussions, thought-provoking presentations, and interactive sessions, attendees will gain practical knowledge and inspiration to embark on their own sustainable entrepreneurial ventures.

This seminar is a unique opportunity for young and aspiring entrepreneurs to not only learn from those who have paved the way but also to connect with a community passionate about sustainable business practices.

Please take note that the event is free for the AIT community only, and we have reserved only 20 seats for AIT community members. To reserve your spot at this empowering event, please register using the following link: http://tinyurl.com/30January2024

4) Hybrid Workshop “Costs of Inaction and Action for Plastic Pollution”

“Costs of Inaction and Action for Plastic Pollution” hybrid workshop is a step toward increasing awareness of the costs of inaction and acting against plastic pollution, to accelerate support for decision-making and implementation from policymakers and stakeholders. This workshop is jointly organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) under a Japan-funded project, addressing Plastic Pollution in Mekong, and Pacific regions.

Background

Plastic pollution has emerged as a formidable threat to global health, ecosystems, and economies, necessitating immediate and decisive action. The surge in plastic production, from a mere 2 million tonnes in 1950 to a staggering 460 million tonnes in 2019, has led to an overwhelming accumulation of waste, particularly in marine environments. Approximately 7 billion tons of the 9.5 billion tons produced in this period have been discarded, with single-use plastics constituting up to half of the annual production. The oceans bear the brunt of this crisis, currently holding between 75 and 199 million tons of plastic waste, with an additional 33 billion pounds added each year. This situation is exacerbated by the lifecycle of plastics, encompassing extraction, design, consumption, and disposal practices, all contributing to the broader triple planetary crisis of climate disruption, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

Addressing this crisis requires a nuanced understanding of the costs associated with both action and inaction the report of “the Cost of Inaction1” by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The report aligns with the vision of the 2012 United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Global Sustainability2, advocating for a transparent evaluation of the economic, social, and environmental implications of sustainable development initiatives. The urgency of the situation is underscored by the UN Secretary-General’s call for ambitious action to tackle the triple planetary crisis. Despite ongoing research and advancements in understanding the impacts of plastic pollution, including the pervasive issue of microplastics, many effects remain unquantified and disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. The complexity of impact assessment, coupled with the urgency of the situation, necessitates immediate decision-making based on the best available data, recognizing that the full extent of plastic pollution’s consequences may never be fully quantified.

Date: Thursday, 1 February 2024

Time: 8.45 – 17.00 hrs. (Bangkok time)

Venue: The Sukosol Hotel Bangkok, Kamolmart room 6th floor, 477 Si Ayuthaya Road, Phayathai, Bangkok (Hybrid)

5) Publish Open Access with Elsevier at 45% of the List Price

Email from AIT Library on 25 January 2024.

AIT Library is pleased to inform you that Elsevier has launched a pilot project for Geographic Pricing for Elsevier Open Access. This means you can publish your paper with 143 Open Access Journals from Elsevier at 45% of the list price.

To facilitate easy access and provide summary details of each journal, the Library has furnished you with the title list, along with the link to each journal, CiteScore, Impact Factor, H-Index, and link to other Journal Metric details. You can check the participating journals from this link https://library.ait.ac.th/2024/01/15/publish-open-access-with-elsevier-a...

To submit your paper, please use AIT email and select Asian Institute of Technology as your affiliation.

For more details about Elsevier's Geographical Pricing for Open Access (GPOS) Pilot, please visit https://www.elsevier.com/en-gb/about/policies-and-standards/pricing.

The Library hopes this information will be useful for you, as publishing with Open Access can help increase the impact of your papers.

6) AIT MEDICAL CENTER SERVICES

Email from the Office of Human Resources Services on 22 January 2024

Dear AIT Community,

The mission of the AIT Medical Center is to provide the best possible medical care to AIT students, employees, and their dependents. In addition to the general medical care, the Medical Center also provides consultations in ENT (ear, nose, throat) and physical rehabilitation. The clinic hours are as follows:

Date	Time	Type of doctors	Name of the doctors
Monday	09:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.	General Physician	Dr. Chatnarin Metheekul
Monday	01.00 p.m. – 04.00 p.m.	General Physician	Dr. Chatnarin Metheekul
Tuesday	10.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m.	Rehabilitation	Dr. Chuenchom Chueluecha
Wednesday	09:00 am – 11.00 a.m.	ENT Specialist (Ear, Nose, Throat)	Dr. Somphong Wajajamroen
Wednesday	01.00 p.m. – 04.00 p.m.	General Physician	Dr. Krittin Silanun (week 2 and week 4)
Thursday	09.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m.	General Physician	Dr. Kamolporn Poolput
Thursday	01.00 p.m. – 04.00 p.m.	General Physician	Dr. Kamolporn Poolput (week 1 and week 3)
Friday	09:00 am – 11.00 am	General Physician	Dr. Chatnarin Metheekul

*Remark: Any changes to the above schedule will be announced via AIT email.

Please click on this link or use the QR code below to make an appointment.

The AIT Medical Center can be reached by email at medical@ait.ac.th or by phone at 02-524-5286 during office hours (from 7.30 to 17.00 hours), from Monday to Friday; and through

02-524-5555 for 24-hour medical emergency service.

Laboratory:

Employees can avail of a free standard blood test from the AIT Medical Center subject to the recommendation of the medical doctor. Blood tests such as blood sugar, lipid profile, liver function, uric acid and renal function (BUN, Cr), and urine examination (no pregnancy test) are available. An electrocardiogram is also available.

Medical appliance/apparatus:

Crutches, canes and wheelchairs can be borrowed from the AIT Medical Center. A refundable deposit will be required. The nurse on duty can be contacted for borrowing these appliances/apparatus.

Student’s Insurance:

Students with the Allianz Ayudhya Medical Insurance should present their insurance card before seeing a doctor. Students needing medical care or medicines without consulting a doctor will be required to pay.

Medical Emergencies:

Emergency medical care is available at the AIT Medical Center at all times. In case of a medical emergency, please call 02-524-5555, the Nurse will call the guard to take her to the patient’s location using the golf cart. If the patient needs to be taken to the hospital, the Nurse will call an ambulance.

The AIT Medical Center’s emergency care service is not a hospital emergency room. Emergency illness conditions such as suspected heart attack, stroke or poisoning require immediate treatment at the nearest hospital emergency room. If anyone is too ill to come to the Medical Center or to go to a hospital without assistance, please call 02-524-5555 or 1669 directly for Emergency Medical Service (provided by the Ministry of Public Health, Thailand).

Night-Shift Nurse:

night-shift nurse, who is on duty from 19:15 to 07:15 hours is reserved for medical emergencies. For safety and security reasons, the door of the Medical Center is locked from 22:00 to 07:00 hours. In medical emergency cases or if any medical emergency assistance is required, the nurse on duty can be contacted at 02-524-5555.

7) Code of Conduct, Student Welfare, Emergency Contact numbers & Reminders

Email from the Student Welfare Unit, Office of Student Affairs on 19 January 2024

Dear students,

Warm new year greetings! Please note that the Student Welfare Unit of the Office of Student Affairs is responsible for all non-academic matters relating to students. In a multinational environment and campus like AIT, the role and function of the Student Welfare Unit is to advise and counsel students on:

1. Student Welfare Matters

Student welfare matters can comprise: gender related matters and the strict no harassment policy on campus; personal counseling; dispute mediation, and any other problem that a student may wish to seek advice on.

2. Code of Conduct at AIT

i. No Harrassment Policy on Campus

Given the unique diversity of the Institute community, AIT must develop special awareness and sensitivity to deter or respond to the problem of sexual harassment.

This is as per Student Handbook, pg. 25, “1.3 Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other physical, oral or written conduct or visual manifestations of a sexual nature.”

This is to inform explicitly and clearly that any form of harassment, including voyeurism, will not be tolerated.

If any student gets to experience any form of harassment, please report immediately through email report@ait.ac.th. Any student who will be reported harassing someone within the campus will face disciplinary action and details of the misconduct will be noted in the student's record.

ii. Stealing, shoplifting or theft of any kind is a serious criminal offense punishable under Thai law. The ramifications could be significant financial penalties and/or imprisonment.

Strict observance of the laws of Thailand is mandatory for all. All students are strongly reminded to observe proper conduct inside and outside of AIT. Any student who will be reported or caught committing any unlawful action within or outside the campus could also face immediate dismissal from the Institute.

AIT cannot and will not intervene with the appropriate penalties according to the law of Thailand if any case is filed to the Royal Thai Police. Moreover, the Institute is not in any way obliged to provide financial or legal support to the concerned student. Unfortunately, AIT cannot and will not intervene with the legal processes of Thailand, as applicable to any criminal case.

As students of AIT, and ambassadors of your country, you are expected to show moral integrity to uphold the good reputation of the Institute and project a good impression of your country. As short-term guests in your adopted home, we look forward to your compliance of the AIT regulations and laws of Thailand.

iii. AIT Accommodation Rules

Please also follow AIT Accommodation Rules and respect your neighbors and roommates in your dorms by:

1. NOT making loud noises/partying

2. NOT cooking in non-cooking dorms

3. NOT smoking

4. NOT having pets/cats/dogs

5. NOT subletting

6. Keeping your dorms/rooms & other AIT facilities clean and orderly and

7. Inform Security (02-524-6000) if you see any suspicious looking individuals near your dorms for safety and security reasons to have a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere inside the campus. Violators will be dealt with accordingly.

Please also exercise utmost caution and safety in any activity during holiday breaks inside or outside the campus that you will be undertaking.

iv. Social Media Usage Awareness

(resent from the Office of Public Affairs’ announcement on 9 January 2023)

Social media technologies are expanding quickly, and they are popular and simple to use, making them appealing channels for communication. However, a variety of unintended consequences are also a possibility with these tools and platforms.

AIT recognizes the value of social media as a powerful tool for creating and disseminating news and information about the institute. AIT also takes the matter of cyber harassment and cyberbullying seriously and highly cares for each individual's integrity, privacy, and well-being. AIT is an international Institute which is neutral and non-political and embraces multicultural harmony. Therefore, we must all preserve this raison d'etre of the Institute. Host country Thailand has passed its first-ever data protection law, the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), which came into effect on 1 June, 2022. Therefore, we need to be even more cognizant. Please refer to the Institute's P&P on Ethical Behavior and Grievance Process and Social Media Guidelines in these links:

https://intranet.ait.ac.th/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/pa-2-1-2-amt19jan2023.pdf

https://intranet.ait.ac.th/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ait-social-media-guidelines-amt16feb2023.pdf

When using social media pages and groups, we strongly request everyone to:

Be Conscientious
Be Respectful
Be Responsible
Be Accurate
Be Original

We remind the AIT community to be respectful to each other both onsite and online, and make AIT a beautiful campus to live in peace and harmony.

3. Feeling of Academic Inadequacy

In cases where students are not doing well academically (especially students on probation), students are advised to consult very closely with their Advisors and Faculty on how to improve their studies. However, if reasons for poor academic performance are due to various factors outside academic/technical reasons, i.e. traumatic events old or new; adjustments to a new country, food and culture; homesickness, etc., further advice on how to improve performance can be provided by the Student Welfare Unit.

4. Medical Insurance/AIT Student Health Benefits Program

All AIT degree program students are required to enroll in the compulsory standard medical insurance plan from Allianz Ayudhya Assurance Plc. Details about the medical insurance, benefits and exclusions are in the Student Welfare website (URL: https://students.ait.ac.th/welfare/). If you have paid in advance for your medical bills, you may claim through the Student Welfare Unit by submitting the original medical receipt and doctor's medical certificate.

5. Beware of possible online scams with sales scams, dating/romance scams, fake job ads/job scams, phishing emails and the like.

Tips to Avoid Online Scams:

Verify Website Security
Use Strong, Unique Passwords
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Be Skeptical of Emails and Messages
Keep Software and Antivirus Updated
Check App Permissions
Research Before Making Purchases
Beware of Phishing Attacks
Monitor Your Accounts
Educate Yourself
Secure Wi-Fi Connections
Backup Important Data

Remember, staying vigilant and informed is crucial in preventing online scams. If something seems suspicious, take the time to investigate and verify before taking any action.

6. Emergency Contact numbers:

For any emergency, you may contact the following:

AIT Security, Fire, Ambulance, Emergency 02 524 6000

AIT Medical Clinic Emergency 02 524 5555

AIT Medical Clinic (office hrs) 02 524 5286

AIT Taxi Service 02 524 6300

AIT Police Box 02 524 5051

Facility Services (Accommodation) 02 524 5800, 524 5093

ITServ/Help Desk 02 524 6082/ email helpdesk@ait.ac.th

AIT Conference Center (AITCC) Front Desk 02 524 5250

AIT Student Welfare Unit 02 524 6744 (office hrs)

Government Relations Unit (GRU) 02 524 5022 (office hrs), 081 821 1903 (Khun Pathumanee for passport emergency pick-up til 9 p.m., with Baht 500 service fee)

Thammasat Hospital 02 926 9999

Thailand Emergency Hotline 191

6. Important Website Links:

AIT Student Handbook: https://students.ait.ac.th/services/regulations_old/student-handbook-2/

AIT Student Welfare website: https://students.ait.ac.th/welfare/

AIT website: https://www.ait.ac.th/admissions/what-next/

For more information and for medical insurance inquiries, please email: student-welfare@ait.ac.th. For personal counseling through the Wellness Counseling for mental health promotion, please watch out for announcements for future appointment slots with osa@ait.ac.th.

Workshops/ Conferences

1) Invitation to participate in the International Conference on “Gender, Geopolitics and Forced Migration,” 04-05 March 2024

Greetings from the Centre on Cender and Forced Displacement (CGFD) at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand.

It is our immense pleasure to invite you to participate in the International Conference on “Gender, Geopolitics and Forced Migration” to

be held on 04-05 March 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand. The conference marks International Women’s Month 2024 to “Inspire Inclusion” to

forge Gender Equality by arguing for a gender-sensitive approach to geopolitics in international relations, foreign policy making and national

politics.

Taking feminist perspectives on war, conflicts, displacements, migration, and peace, the three-fold objectives of the conference are:

1. To Investigate the gendered assumptions/stereotypes in the study of forced migration, displacements, international relations, and national

and foreign policy making, including their explicit geopolitical and biopolitical reasoning and how political spatialization renders women

and vulnerable groups even more vulnerable.

2. To examine the implications of militarized notions of territorial citizenship, using the masculinist ideas of power, space, and security and

feminine representations of peace, security, and victimhood.

3. To explore how the practical everyday implications of geopolitics and biopolitics and their intersectionalities impact the causes and

consequences of displacements.

Against this backdrop, the conference intends to address the following questions:

1. How is excessive geopolitics affecting the vulnerable sections of the population in the region? Is it making women even more

marginalized in the public sector?

2. Can geopolitics address the situation of the Afghans, Rohingyas, and Palestinians, for example? Is there a gender dimension to

this problem?

3. Can geopolitical considerations affect the private, too, or are they acutely felt only in the public domains?

4. It is said that toxic geopolitics and noxious masculinity come together in moments of neocolonialism. How does it affect IDPs

and the Stateless?

5. Can peace and security be crafted without gender sensitivities?

Keeping these questions in mind, the four panels for the conference are:

1. Gender, Geopolitics, and Internal Displacements

2. Gender and Geopolitics within the Rubrics of Citizenship and Statelessness

3. Geopolitics and Biopolitics: Everyday Experiences of the Displaced

4. Gender, Geopolitics and Forced Displacements: Cases from Other Regions

Please confirm whether you would like to present a paper for 25 minutes. Please contact us at monira@ait.ac.th

and ahsan.monira@gmail.com for paper presentations by February 15, 2024.

To attend the conference and participate in the proceedings, please contact Sristy Sen at sristy.sen@gmail.com by February 15, 2024.

Please register through this link: https://forms.gle/KjrZzEaHKSoAif2j9

We look forward to seeing you at the conference.

2) Professional Training and Exposure Visit on Climate Smart and Sustainable Agriculture Using Cutting-Edge Technology and IoT

Date: 4 – 9 March 2024
Venue: Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand

For more information about the program and registration please visit

https://extension.ait.ac.th/course/professional-training-program-climate...

3) Professional Development on Strategic Human Resource Management and Business Leadership

Date: 18-22 March 2024
Venue: Asian Institute of Technology

For more information please visit https://tinyurl.com/37fw54u7

4) Summer Training Program on Climate Smart and Sustainable Agriculture Using Cutting-Edge Technology and IoT

Duration: 10 – 21 June 2024
Venue: Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand

For more information and registration please visit
https://extension.ait.ac.th/course/summer-training-program-climate-smart-and-sustainable-agriculture-using-cutting-edge

C. Visitors/ MoU/ Agreement

D. Faculty & Staff Travel

Ms. Chotiros Mongkolchotirat, Director, Office of the President/ Taipei, Taiwan/ 19 - 22 February 2024
Prof. Mokbul Morshed Ahmad, Faculty SERD/ Pakistan/ 26 - 31 January 2024
Prof.Sangam Shrestha, DEAN SERD/ Kathmandu, Nepal/ 24 - 29 January 2024
Prof. Manukid Parnichkul, Faculty SET/ Songkhla, Thailand/ 1 - 4 February 2024
Prof. Weerakorn Ongsakul/ Faculty SERD/ UK/ 31 January - 3 February 2024
Prof. Weerakorn Ongsakul/ Faculty SERD/ Japan/ 20 - 23 February 2024
Dr. Sanjeev Jayasinghe, Executive Director, OAAA/ Colombo, Sri Lanka/ 10 - 13 February 2024
Dr. Sanjeev Jayasinghe, Executive Director, OAAA/ Taipei, Taiwan/ 19 - 22 February 2024
Dr. Sanjeev Jayasinghe, Executive Director, OAAA/ Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia/ 28 February - 2 March 2024
Mr. Voravat Chonlasin, Executive Director, AITX/ Malaysia/ 28 February - 2 March 2024
Dr. Sarawut Ninsawat, Faculty SET/ Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand/ 29 January 2024
Ms. Alistina Shrestha, SET/ Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand/ 29 January 2024
Prof. Anil Kumar Anal, Faculty SERD/ India/ 3 - 6 February 2024
Dr. Lai Nguyen Huy, Faculty SERD/ Chiang Mai, Thailand/ 28 - 31 January 2024
Dr. Dibesh Khadka, Faculty SET/ Phuket, Thailand/ 31 January - 5 February 2024
Mrs. Siriporn Harnmeng/ SET/ Phuket, Thailand/ 31 January - 4 February 2024
Ms. Supamas Untui & Ms. Chanidaporn Chaimongkol, SET/ Khonkaen, Thailand/ 31 January - 1 February 2024
Dr. Roger Levermore, VPD/ Srilanka & India/ 8 - 17 February 2024
Dr. Ha Thanh Dong, Faculty SERD/ Tamil Nadu, India/ 30 January - 4 February 2024
Dr. Sanjeev Jayasinghe, Executive Director, OAAA/ Houston, New Jersey, Dalias, San Antonio, Humble/ 22 June - 23 July 2024