WEEK #45: 7 – 13 November 2016
In this issue:
A. Announcements
(i) AIT's CSR Activity - Helping Farmers
Email from President: 3 Nov. 2016
Dear Faculty, Staff and Students
AIT has been in Thailand for 57 years and the AIT community continues to feel very at home in Thailand. Thus, whenever opportunity arises, AIT community shall join hands with Thai people for any good course.
Recently, you may have heard that Thai Rice Farmers suffer financial crunch when the market price of rice plummets. As a way to help farmers who otherwise have to sell rice to the middlemen at a dump-away price, consumers offer to buy directly from grass-root farmers. Therefore I invite AIT consumers of rice to join me in this CSR activity.
I have contacted a farmer family in Surin Province who seeks help. I communicated with their daughter at Suranaree University who knew AIT well through her professor, an AIT alumnus. If anyone wish to order rice directly from her, she can deliver the rice to AIT on 14 November.
She confirmed that the organic rice from her family rice farm are grown naturally without any chemical fertilizers and insecticides (ข้าวอินทรีย์ ไม่ได้ใช้ปุ๋ยเคมี และสารเคมีกำจัดศัตรูพืชและวัชพืช)
The list prices are as follows:
(1) Mali Fragrant Rice (ข้าวหอมมะลิ) 35 Baht per kg.
(2) Coarse Mali Rice or Half-Polished Mali Rice (ข้าวหอมมะลิซ้อมมือ) 35 Baht per kg.
(3) Brown Rice or Unpolished Mali Rice (ข้าวกล้องหอมมะลิ) 40 Baht per kg.
(4) Berry Rice (ข้าวไรส์เบอรี่) 50 Baht per kg.
(5) White Sticky Rice (ข้าวเหนียวขาว) 33 Baht per kg.
(6) Dark Sticky Rice (ข้าวเหนียวดำ) 50 Baht per kg.
The rice will come as a pack of 5 kg. so we need to order at multiple of 5 kg. At a start, I suggest each of us not to buy so much as a test of the product. If it is good, then we can order from them regularly once a month or so. She said she can organize a farmers co-op in her village to supply the rice.
(1) To order, please indicate the type, the number of packs (@5 kg), and the total cost to Khun Pakkamol (pakkamol@ait.asia ).
(2) To confirm the order, one must pay the total amount at Khun Wanna, the Receptionist on the ground floor of the Admin Building. The deadline to confirm the order is 10 November.
(3) As this is an extra activity of AIT, only unofficial receipt will be given to the orderers.
(4) Then bring the receipt to claim your rice pacts at the reception area on 14 November.
Many thanks for your kind spirit.
Regards,
Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai
AIT President
(ii) New Zealand Houses
Email from President: 1 Nov. 2016
Dear All
You may wonder what our plan is with the shabby New Zealand houses. I refer to a series of faculty houses near the Front Gate imported from, and under the funding support of, New Zealand more than 40 years ago.
After the flood, I have personally talked to H.E. Tony Lynch, Ambassador of New Zealand, and asked if NZ was interested to support the renovation of these houses due to their historical value. The Ambassador clearly responded that NZ has no budget for the renovation. The property belonged to AIT after the handover. Therefore it is really up to AIT to make the decision.
Then, I have requested AITAA-Thailand to sent an expert team to inspect these run-down houses. After the inspection, their professional opinion was that it is possible to repair the houses. However, due to its non-conventional structure, the repair of the houses will be much more expensive than to build new ones, meter to meter.
Considering the high cost of repairs and that most faculty today have a smaller family size, the Campus Rebuilding and Upgrade Committee resolved to demolish the houses to make way for a green space. New faculty houses should then be built inside the campus, not in this front area.
Before we can remove the houses, we have received a request from the then VPR, to convert these houses into "smart houses" under a project so called
Nexus. Thus, the AIT Management Team Meeting agreed to let the Nexus Project take over, on the condition that the Nexus project will not request core budget from AIT. In the proposal, the Nexus team aimed to raise fund from the Industries. However, it was unfortunate that the Nexus Team was unable to raise the needed fund to drive the project.
When VPD arrived, he also had the interest to raise fund from alumni to convert these houses into a living laboratory, i.e. to become energy self-reliant houses. Therefore the plan to remove these houses have to be halted. After 2-3 months, VPD now recognized the high cost of renovating these houses, then he changed his plan to build a new house instead.
With this email, I would like to inform the Community that we will go ahead with the demolishing of the NZ houses and convert the area into a park. Thus, unless any party can quickly mobilize funds to salvage the houses, we will go along with the original proposal of the Committee to turn the place into a garden, because the place had been an eyesore for too long.
With Regards,
Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai
AIT President
(iii) Newsletter: November 2016 edition
This month, the AIT Newsletter pays homage to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand.
It also includes news about AIT's privileged association with His Majesty, and other Institute activities.
The PDF edition as well as EPUB (iOS, android) and MOBI (Kindle) editions can be downloaded at these links:
EPUB: https://goo.gl/KHP7VM
MOBI: https://goo.gl/sNUVxV
(iv) AITIS Pre-registration for January 2017
The AIT International School (AITIS) is pleased to announce that Pre-Registration for Elementary and Pre-Kindergarten sections will be from 3 to 11 November 2016.
The readiness tests are scheduled at 8.30 a.m. (0830 hours) on 16 and 17 November 2016.
(v) 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
5) List of European Institutions Interested in Hosting Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
7) 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
(vi) Gentle reminder: work permit renewal
In December 2016, work permit of many non-Thai AIT faculty and staff will expire. Due to a long holiday in December, please renew your Work Permit at least 1 month before it expires. Kindly provide the following documents:
• Passport and Visa
• Work permit license
• Medical certificate (valid for 1 month) from AIT Medical Clinic.
• Certificate Employee from HRO
• Rate of Government Fees for Work Permit
o 950 Baht (For 3 months)
o 1,700 Baht (For 6 months)
o 3,200 Baht (For 1 year)
o 3,950 Baht (For 1 year and 3 months)
o 4,700 Baht (For 1 year and 6 months)
o 6,200 Baht (For 2 years)
Please apply to extend the work permit from 15 November – 15 December 2016. However, if you submit late you must apply for a new work permit.
For further questions, please contact K.Suvanee/K.Pipat, GRU Unit, at Tel. 5014 or 5021
B. Campus Updates
(i) Construction of 7Eleven Convenience Store at the Corner of 4th Street and D Street SW
Please be informed that construction work will begin for 7Eleven Convenience Store located between the corner of 4th Street and D Street SW as follows:
1. Start of Construction Work: 1st Week of November 2016
2. Total Construction Days: 70
3. Schedule Days of Work: Monday to Sunday
4: Schedule Time of Work: 8:00am to 5:00pm
5. Tentative Store Opening Date: 10 January 2017
We thank you for your kind support and apologies for any inconvenience caused.
C. Events and Happenings
(i) EVENTS
(a) Climate Change Impact and Adaptation in Agriculture: Examples from Climate-Water-Crop Modelling and Field Studies: 8 Nov. 2016
AIT is organizing a side event titled "Climate Change Impact and Adaptation in Agriculture: Examples from Climate-Water-Crop Modelling and Field Studies" on 8 November 2016 in conjunction with the Second World Irrigation Forum being held from 7-9 November in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
(b) CPR Training: 18 Nov. 2016
Office of Human Resources Services will organize a half day training on CPR: First aid , for students, staff, faculty and contractor services, like security guards, etc.
CPR Training
Venue: Room B-206, AIT Center
Date: 18 November 2016
Time : 13.00 hrs - 16.00 hrs.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation ( CPR ) is a lifesaving technique useful in many emergencies including heart attack or near drowning in which someone's breathing or heart beat has stopped.
CPR Thamasat Hospital Team, leading by Assistant Professor Dr. Intanon Imsuwan M.D. will be the resources persons for this training
As there are limited 40 seats, please don't hesitate to enroll this valuable training for life before 16 November 2016 by sending e-mail to:
Jiraphong jiraphong@ait.asia /or
Jirada jirada@ait.asia
(ii) LECTURES / SEMINARS / CONFERENCES
(a) SERD Special lecture
School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD) will organize a special lecture on “Agriculture and food security in the face of climate change in the Hindu-Kush Himalayan Region” by Dr. Abid Hussain, Food Security Economist International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Nepal.
The presentation will be held on:
Date: Monday, 07 November 2016
Time: 10:00-12:00 hrs.
Venue: S101, SERD Meeting Room
(b) 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.
(c) Talk on Multicultural Campus: 9 Nov. 2016
Mr. Surendra Shrestha, Vice President for Development (VPD) will deliver a talk on Multicultural Campus on 9 November 2016, from 4:00 – 6:30 p.m. at Milton E. Bender Jr. Auditorium.
(d) SERD Lecture on "Re-Imagining Coastal Agricultural Development in Climate Adaptation Planning and Governance in Developing Countries: The case of Ghana": 14 Nov. 2016
School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD) will organize a Special lecture on "Re-Imagining Coastal Agricultural Development in Climate Adaptation Planning and Governance in Developing Countries: The case of Ghana" to be delivered by Dr. Kenneth O. Mensah, Production Management and Quality Assurance, (Limited Secondment), Tandelle-Pacer truss.
The presentation will be held on:
Date: Monday, 14 November 2016
Time: 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Venue: S101, SERD Meeting Room
(e) Institute-level Talk on “Innovation Challenges – How to Become Better in Research–based Innovation and Commercialization” - A Swedish Perspective: 15 Nov. 2016
AIT Solutions will organize an Institute-level Talk on “Innovation Challenges – How to Become Better in Research–based Innovation and Commercialization - A Swedish Perspective” by Mr. Kjell-Håkan Närfelt on 15 November 2016, from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. at Room 115, AIT Extension Building. Mr Närfelt is currently working at VINNOVA (the Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems) as a Chief Strategy Officer.
(f) 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/
(g) DPMM Open Seminar on Higher Education Opportunities Related to Disaster Risk Reduction
Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation and Management (DPMM) is organizing an open seminar on Higher Education Opportunities related to Disaster Risk Reduction on 17 Nov, 2016 as per the following detail. The event will be useful for the Students in the context of higher education. Attached is the program Flyer and One page profile of Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed, Senior Lecturer, University of Newcastle, Australia.
Venue: Room E220, SERD Building, AIT
Date: 17 November, 2016
Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm
All interested are welcome to attend this open seminar.
(h) European Research Days in ASEAN: Workshops on Effective Proposal Preparation for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA): 18-25 November, 2016
These one-day workshops in Jakarta, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok will provide detailed information on the eligibility and application criteria for the MSCA Individual Fellowships and the MSCA Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE). Hands-on training led by a European trainer will focus on proposal structure, partner Identification, financial aspects, evaluation as well as a review of sample proposals.
These workshops will take place in Jakarta, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Bangkok 18-25 November, 2016.
Participation in the workshop is free of charge but registration is required. Participation is limited to 60 people only.
This workshop will be conducted by Dr Juliane Sauer, EUresearch, Switzerland.
For more information: https://www.eventbrite.sg/e/erd-2016-effective-proposal-preparation-for-the-marie-skodowska-curie-actions-tickets-27921422727?aff=erellivmlt
Check out:
asean@euraxess.net
asean.euraxess.org
Sign up to EURAXESS Links ASEAN here:
http://ec.europa.eu/euraxess/links/singapore/index_en.htm
(i) COURSES
(a) Training on Highways and Bridge Design and Construction Technology: 7 – 11 Nov. 2016
A training program on "Highways and Bridge Design and Construction Technology" will be organized from 7-11 November 2016 by AIT Extension for 15 officers from the Project Directorate (ADB), Department of Roads, Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Government of Nepal.
(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/
D. Visitors
E. Faculty and Staff Travel
Prof. Lawrence Stephen Abein / Taiwan, Japan, and Shanghai, China / 22 October – 1 November 2016*
Ms. Colleen Curran / Manila, Philippines / 26 October – 13 November 2016
Dr. Punchet Thammarak / Chiang Mai, Thailand / 27 October 2016*
Dr. Djoen San Santoso / Myanmar / 28 – 30 October 2016*
Dr. B.H.W. Hadikusumo / Vietnam / 28 October – 8 November 2016
Mr. Angga Bayu Marthafifsa / Yerevan, Armania / 30 October – 5 November 2016*
Dr. Apichon Witayangkurn / Tokyo, Japan / 30 October – 11 November 2016
Dr. Kunnawee Kanitpong / Balitimore, USA / 31 October – 11 November 2016
Mr. Surendra Shrestha / Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, Cambodia / 1 – 6 November 2016*
Dr. Vilas Nitivattananon / Xiamen, China / 3 – 6 November 2016*
Mr. Sanjeev Pradeep Jayasinghe / Siem Reap, Cambodia / 4 – 6 November 2016*
Dr. Surachet Pravinvongvuth / Siem Reap, Cambodia / 4 – 7 November 2016
Dr. Djoen San Santoso / Vietnam / 5 – 6 November 2016*
Prof. C. Visvanathan / Taiwan / 6 – 9 November 2016
Prof. Lawrence Stephen Abein / Taipei, Taiwan / 6 – 9 November 2016
Dr. Manzul K. Hazarika / Suva, Fiji / 6 – 13 November 2016
Dr. Sangam Shrestha / Chiang Mai, Thailand / 7 – 8 November 2016
Dr. Supat Wangwongwatana / Taipei, Taiwan / 7 – 10 November 2016
Mrs. Vinita Saluja / Singapore / 7 – 10 November 2016
Mr. Kevin Mauritson / Singpapore / 7 – 10 November 2016
Dr. Atitaya Panuvatvanich / South Korea / 7 – 11 November 2016
Dr. Mokbul Morshed Ahmad / Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam / 8 – 10 November 2016
Dr. Weerakorn Ongsakul / Penang, Malaysia / 10 – 12 November 2016
Prof. Kanchana Kanchanasut / Seoul, Korea / 12 – 18 November 2016
Mr. Arturo G. Roa / Vientiane, Laos / 13 – 17 November 2016
Prof. Voratas Kachitvichyanukul / Beijing, P.R. China / 13 – 19 November 2016
*(Staff or faculty member travelled and returned to AIT prior to documentation received for publication)
F. Classifieds (Jobs)
Position: Head, Strategy & Coordination Cluster (Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific)
Ref. No. 46/16
Deadline: 9 November 2016
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/407
Position: Technician (School of Environment, Resources & Development)
Ref. No. 49/16
Deadline: 13 November 2016
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/410
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
Position: Assistant Administrative Officer (Office of Host Country Relations)
Ref. N0. 25/16
Deadline: 15 November 2016
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/382
Position: Programme Officer (Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific)
Ref. No. 50/16
Deadline: 18 November 2016
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/411
Position: Action Research Coordinator (Asian Center of Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture (ACISAI))
Ref. No. 47/16
Deadline: 25 November 2016
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/408
Position: Research Associate (Asian Center of Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture (ACISAI))
Ref. No. 48/16
Deadline: 25 November 2016
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/409
Faculty Position (Assistant or Associate Professors) (School of Management)
Ref. No. Fac 5/16
Deadline: 31 December 2016
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/402
Position: Director (Office of the Human Resources Services)
Ref. No. 7/16
Deadline: 31 December 2016
http://www.hro.ait.ac.th/job/show/363