WEEK#23: 4 - 10 June 2018
In this issue:
(i) REFLECTION OF A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Message from AIT President (31 May 2018)
Today, it is delightful for me to open “Visionary Event on Structural Engineering Backbone of Built Environment - Future Proofing our Infrastructure” organized by the AIT Solutions, an Outreach Unit of AIT. The event which lasts for 3 days features many world-known invited speakers to present their views on the achievement, challenges and vision for the future of built environment and integration of emerging technologies.
The event will culminate with an exciting visionary dinner talk by Ashraf Habibullah, my friend at UC Berkeley and CEO of Computers & Structures Inc., USA, developer of well-known software suite ETABS and SAP.
The following is my reflection on the huge evolution of Structural Engineering Profession during the last 2-3 decades:
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When I was a university student back in 1967-1971, the calculation device, which all engineering students at the time carried with pride, was something called “Slide Rule”, a tool that was disrupted in the late 1970s by hand-held calculators.
Without modern tools like we have today, structural engineers in the old days have developed a common skill known as “the Engineering Senses”. It is difficult to exactly define and measure “the engineering senses” which were cumulative results of professional hand-on experiences.
Structural engineers in the old days did not have the luxury of software packages and technologies. They had to perform structural analysis and structural design manually, all built up from scratch using pure knowledge, with no help from technologies.
They had to do “concrete mix design” to come up with concrete strength. They needed to understand the soil and boring report to come up with the pile capacity. They had to make many assumptions so the complete 3D structural system can be represented by simplified 2D structures that can be analyzed by hands.
This is why we always need a big “Factor of Safety” in the design codes to safeguard all the risks from bad assumptions and human mistakes. Without computer software, structural design of a building may take many months to complete, but this tedious process also helps develop good resourceful professional structural engineers who understand the nitty gritty of the entire process.
Today, modern structural engineers have the luxury of software tools, technologies and specialists to make the entire process of design and construction more accurate, faster and with ample choices. Unfortunately, there is a feeling that the new generation of structural engineers fall too dependent on software and technologies. Most of them lack the “engineering senses” that their predecessors mostly had, simply because, with software, they don’t need “engineering senses” to complete the task. Today most young structural engineers discuss about the beauty of the graphics produced by their software packages, more than the beauty of the structural theories.
My personal advice to structural engineers is that they should be more than acting like “technological operators”. Structural engineers must continue to play the role of “creators”. With the added advantage of modern software tools and technologies, Structural Engineers must strive to become not only “creators” but “great creators”.
(ii) AIT Newsletter: June 2018
Email from OMCO (1 Jun. 2018)
The June 2018 edition of the monthly AIT Newsletter has been released.
The PDF and EPUB versions can be downloaded from the links below.
Download links:
EPUB: https://bit.ly/2sx2mdQ
MOBI: https://bit.ly/2swXe9J
(iii) Film Screening on World Environment Day
To commemorate the World Environment Day 2018, the School of Environment and Resource Development (SERD) and the Wildlife Enforcement Monitoring System (WEMS) Secretariat at the AIT Solutions are hosting the screening of a special film titled "ALBATROSS" – a stunning visual journey exploring the consequences of global plastics pollution in the ocean through the eyes of the Albatross population on Midway Island.
The theme of World Environment Day 2018 is "Beat Plastic Pollution" and the movie highlights the issue and presents the tragic story that is unfolding in the heart of the world's greatest ocean, which may change the way we see everything.
Plastic pollution in the marine environment is a “critical problem” for global ecosystems and for human health as microscopic pieces of waste enter the food chain. Albatross, a film by artist Chris Jordan, is a powerfully moving love story about birds on Midway Island in the Pacific whose bodies are filled with ocean plastic.
The AIT community, partners and interested parties are invited for this event.
A film screening and panel discussion will be organized on World Environment Day 2018 on 5 June 2018 from 1:00 – 3:10 p.m. at the Milton E. Bender Jr. Auditorium.
(iv) 7th call for documentaries for the Visual Documentary Project (VDP)
Email from Director, Office of Academic Administration (6 Jun. 2018)
Greetings Filmmakers and Friends!
The Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS), Kyoto University is calling for documentaries for the 7th Visual Documentary Project! Please circulate to all filmmakers in the region. Please help us reach out to young aspiring filmmakers in Southeast Asia!
THEME: Popular Culture and Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia: a region rich in popular cultural traditions. How do popular music, art, literature, theatre, comedy, dance, sport and film, move people in Southeast Asia? What makes them laugh, cry and feel? Inspire us! For 2018, we open up the visual documentary project to documentaries that capture popular cultures across the region.
REQUIREMENTS
1. Applicants must be citizens from Southeast Asia or Japan.
2. Documentaries should be no longer than 30 minutes.
3. Applicants should make sure they have permission from any subjects that appear in the movies.
4. Documentaries should include English subtitles. Translation and subtitling is also the responsibility of applicants.
*Selected documentaries will be screened in their original languages with both Japanese and English subtitles. However, documentaries that are in English will only have Japanese subtitles added and vice versa.
DEADLINE: 31 August 2018
APPLICATION: LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!
ABOUT THE PROJECT
The Visual Documentary Project (VDP) was set up in 2012 by the Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS). The aims of the project are to explore and introduce the rich diversity of contemporary Southeast Asia (SEA) through the medium of documentary films and to create bridges between academia, the SEA filmmaking community and civil society. From 2014, the Japan Foundation Asia Center joins this project as co-organizer to help widely promote the richness of Southeast Asian cultures to people in Japan. As of 2016, the project has linked up with numerous film schools in the region to help strengthen the documentary filmmaking network.
CONTACT: Visual Documentary project vdp@cseas.kyoto-u.ac.jp
(v) Knovel Ambassador Program at AIT for 2018
Email from AIT Library (25 May 2018)
Elsevier in co-operation with AIT Library is recruiting 1-2 student ambassadors to promote Knovel at AIT. We are looking for students with the following profiles:
· Basic Engineering Education Background
· Postgraduate
· Able to commit about 10 – 15 hours per month to support Knovel engagement activities including library Knovel training with the engineering community
· Conduct small-scale Knovel sharing session with his peers & teaching staff
The program will start in July 2018. Pre-training will be provided by Knovel team. Promotional Materials including small give-away will be provided to support the ambassador with their engagement activities.
Interesting students can apply for this post from today until 15 June 2018. Please send your curriculum vitae / resume to the Library at library@ait.ac.th .
(vi) Join “Emerald Quiz – the Year of the Dog” today and have a chance to win an Apple Watch
Email from AIT Library (31 May 2018)
AIT Library would like to invite you all to join an online quiz organized by Emerald. If you have FOUR quiz questions answered correctly before 30 June 2018, you will be entered for a lucky draw to win an Apple Watch. Winner of the quiz will be contacted directly by Emerald. Click www.bit.ly/EmeraldQuiz to find the details and to start the quiz right away!
(vii) Reminder of visa and work permit issues
Email from GRU (21 May 2018)
Dear non-Thai Faculty, Staff, and Students
According to an ongoing crackdown on illegal immigrants named "X-Ray Outlaw Foreigners”, police are focusing on schools and universities. Please be reminded of the followings:
1. Visa extension form along with related document must be submitted to GRU at least 2 months before the expiration date in order to avoid being subject to an overstayed fine. The same criteria also apply to your dependants (if any).
2. Using a wrong visa category is illegal. For example, a dependant visa cannot be used for purposes of working.
3. Make sure that your work permit is still valid and be extended before the date of expiration.
If you have any queries, please contact Government Relations Unit (GRU) at tel. ext. 5022, or via e-mail: gru@ait.ac.th .
(viii) The schedule of Dr. Amornwan Nilsuwan (ENT Specialist) on Thursday, 7 June 2018
Email from AIT Medical Clinic (4 Jun. 2018)
Kindly note that the Dr. Amornwan Nilsuwan (ENT Specialist)'s schedule on Thursday, 7th June 2018 will start from 12.00 to 13.00 hrs.
(ix) Phishing/spam email requesting your password
Email from AIT Helpdesk (29 May 2018)
Dear users,
Currently there is a phishing/spam email being circulated to many users claiming that your webmail mail size exceeded the quota given and then asked you to provide your account's password in order to reactivate your webmail quota. Please ignore this and similar emails which request your account's password. This is a phishing/spam email which attempts to hack your email system. We never request password from our users
Similar warning is also available at:
(x) AC unit cleaning service for SERD Building
Email from OFAM (22 May 2018)
Please be informed that technicians will enter SERD Building for unit cleaning as a part of our preventive maintenance routine from Wednesday, 23 May – Friday, 22 June 2018
It is advisable for the tenants to store their valuables away in a safe place to prevent them from being misplaced or damaged during the process of maintenance.
For AC units cleaning; if any of the tenants find the mentioned schedule to be inconvenient, please contact call center office at 5800 to arrange for another time.
PM Plan for A/C Cleaning
Monday, 4 June: SERD W222, W223, W225, W227, W229, W231, W233, W235
Tuesday, 5 June: SERD W214, W216, W237, W239, W241
Wednesday, 6 June: SERD W220, W222, W224, W243, W245, W247, W249
Thursday, 7 June: W226, W251, W253, W255, W257
Friday, 8 June: SERD S100, S101, E126-E128
Monday, 11 June: SERD E119-E123, E131
Tuesday, 12 June: SERD E 109, E112-E115, E117
Wednesday, 13 June: SERD E105-E107, E110, E111
Thursday, 14 June: E101-E104, E108
Friday, 15 June: SERD W128-W133, W135
Monday, 18 June: SERD W127, W130, W131, W136-W139
Tuesday, 19 June: SERD W101-W104, W132
Wednesday, 20 June: SERD W117-W120
Thursday, 21 June: SERD W121-W126
Friday, 22 June: SERD W109-W115
Remark: The cleaning time can vary
(xi) Vacant Seats Available for Staff Vans
Email from Office of Human Resources Services (9 Jan. 2018)
Kindly be informed that the available seats for AIT Staff Vans are indicated as follows:
Route 1: Latplakaow - Ramintra - Sapanmai - Phaholyothin km. 27 - AIT, still has 3 seats available (from 4 seats left 1 seat for relaxing space)
Route 2: Sathorn - BTS Morchit - Vibhavadi - AIT , still has 3 seats available (from 4 seats left 1 seat for relaxing space )
Route 3 : Nonthaburi - BTS Ministry of Public Health - Pongpetch - Laksi - Vibhavadi - AIT, still has 3 seats available (from 4 seats left 1 seat for relaxing space)
Route 4: Thonburi- The Mall Tha-pra - Pinklao Intersection- Rama VII Bridge -Vibhavadi - AIT, still has 4 seats available (from 5 seats left 1 seat for relaxing space)
For further communication and reservation, please contract Khun Jirada at ext.5018 or jirada@ait.asia .
(i) EVENTS
(a) Blood Donation: 7 Jun. 2018
The Thai Red Cross Society has been working with volunteer students and staff to collect units of blood from the AIT community. The bloodmobile visits AIT every three months, four times a year, hoping to collect enough units to supply the constant demand for blood.
The next visit for blood donation is scheduled on Thursday, 7th June 2018, 9:00 - 11:30 a.m. at the parking lot in front of the AIT Conference Center.
Give blood! You'll experience a fulfilling sense of contribution. And the donation process isn't time-consuming. It only takes about half an hour.
(ii) LECTURES / SEMINARS / CONFERENCES
(a) IASC Meeting on Redefining Diversity and Dynamism of Natural Resource Management in Asia: 13 – 16 Jul. 2018
The Asia Region Biennial International Association for the Study of Commons (IASC) meeting on "Redefining Diversity and Dynamism of Natural Resource Management in Asia" will be organized at AIT from 13-16 July 2018.
The event is jointly organized by AIT, Chiang Mai University (CMU), Thailand, Ostrom Center for the Advanced Study in Natural Resource Governance (OCeAN), and the International Association for the Study of Commons (IASC).
More details are available at this link: http://ocean.ait.ac.th/ocean-2018/
(b) AIT-Tiger Leong International Innovation & Leadership Camp: 16 – 26 Jul. 2018
The AIT-Tiger Leong International Innovation and Leadership Camp was launched in 2017 by the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in collaboration with its alumnus Ir. Tiger Leong, President, Ellipse Enterprise Malaysia. The camp brought together bright and talented undergraduate students from top universities in the Asia who were selected based on their leadership potential and excellent academic performance. The camp seeks to emerge as a premier leadership camp for promising students.
As part of AIT’s commitment to promote and train the new generation of students as future innovative leaders, the camp aims to nurture the entrepreneurial skills of young people and encourage them to be innovative through increasing their capacity and knowledge to become leading citizens. Students can gain new knowledge, skills through a combination of workshops, seminars, motivational talks, and site visits to pioneering industries in Thailand. The camp is facilitated by the Innovation Lab at AIT Solutions, a creativity hub dedicated to bringing together students, industries, researchers to develop innovative solutions addressing important social and economic challenges.
(c) ICUE 2018 on Green Energy for Sustainable Development: 24 – 26 Oct. 2018
AIT will organize ICUE 2018 on Green Energy for Sustainable Development from 24 – 26 October 2018 at Thavorn Palm Beach Resort, Karon, Phuket, Thailand.
The organizer has received almost 300 abstracts so far from over 40 different countries.
Still many requests for extension are coming and so the deadline is further moved to 15 May 2018. New submissions can either be abstracts or full papers.
Notification of acceptance for the new submissions will be by 31 May 2018.
For further information, please contact visit our website:
or contact:
Conference Secretariat at email: icue2018@ait.ac.th
More details: http://eecc.ait.ac.th/events/icue-conference-2018/
(d) 7th Asia Conference on Earthquake Engineering
Seismic Resilience for Safer Cities and Infrastructures: 22-25 Nov 2018
Seismic Resilience for Safer Cities and Infrastructures: 22-25 Nov 2018
Urbanization is one of the major global challenges of this era. To address the issues related to safety of cities and infrastructure, the 7th Asia Conference on Earthquake Engineering (7ACEE 2018) is being jointly organized by AIT and Engineering Institute of Thailand (EIT) in collaboration with the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines Inc. (ASEP), from 22 – 25 November 2018 in Bangkok.
Engineers, architects, professionals, students, institutes, universities, and organizations are invited to submit abstracts and share their experience under the theme Seismic Resilience for Safer Cities. Download Abstract Template
All who are submitting Abstracts or papers are also requested to provide a short biography (no more than 100 words) and recent photo that will be published in both the conference program and the conference proceedings.
Open for Abstract Submission - Mar 1, 2018
Deadline for Abstract Submission - Apr 15, 2018
Registration Deadline - Aug 31, 2018
More details: http://acee2018.org/
(iii) COURSES, TRAININGS
(a) Training on Drones, Satellite Imagery and GIS in agriculture: 4 – 8 Jun. 2018
AIT, Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, and ITU will jointly organize a Regional Training on “The Use of Drone, Satellite Imagery and GIS in Agriculture” from 4 – 8 June 2018 at AIT Conference Center.
(b) LC Bridging Program 2018: 18 June – 26 July
Please be informed that the start of the Bridging Program for this year has been postponed with two weeks to allow more students to enroll. It was noted that for some departments the start of the program comes too soon and that they are still in the process of nominating students.
The updated program dates:
18 June - 26 July (30 hrs of study per week)
Fee: 50,400 THB.
Department 1/2 fee scholarship:
Please note that the AIT-MT has endorsed the opportunity for departments to sponsor students with academic potential with a half fee scholarship. (i..e, the candidate pays 50% and the department sponsors 50% of the fees).
Eligibility:
In brief, the program aims to assist those students with academic potential who do not meet the AIT English language requirements to be ready for admission by August. Candidates eligible to join the program are currently at a level of AIT-EET 4.5 or IELTS equivalent.
Results from the past:
Results from the past have shown that students can make great progress in the development of their English skills over the course of the program and that they feel more confident and better prepared to start their course work in English. Over the years, the LC has been able to prepare all candidates joining the BP to be ready for admission. On average students
improve with 0.5 - 1.0 band on the AIT-EET scale / IELTS equivalent.
More info:
Please contact us at languages@ait.ac.th for more information or visit our website http://www.languages.ait.asia/bridging-program/
(c) Thai Reading and Writing Course for Beginners: May-June 2018
The Language Center will organize a course, “Reading and Writing Thai for Beginners”.
Reading and Writing Thai for Beginners (8 May – 26 June 2018)
• Tuesday and Thursday from 17:00 – 18:30, 2 times/week, Total 20 hours
• Course Fee: 2,000 baht
• Class Size: 15 persons
Register now at the Language Center, Room 216
(d) Chinese Course for Beginners: May-July 2018
The Language Center will organize Chinese Course for Beginners as follows:
Chinese Course for Beginners (15 May – 3 July 2018)
Tuesday and Thursday from 17:00 – 18:30, 2 times/week, Total 20 hours
The course fee is 1,000THB due to the kind support of the Chinese Government through the Confucius Institute. (Refunds are not available.)
Class Size: 15 persons
Register now at the Language Center, Room 216
(e) Chinese Course for Beginners: 5 Jun. – 19 Jul. 2018
The Language Center will organize Chinese Course for Beginners as follows:
Chinese Course for Beginners (5 June - 19 July 2018)
Tuesday and Thursday from 17:00 – 18:30, 2 times/week, Total 20 hours
The course fee is 1,000THB due to the kind support of the Chinese Government through the Confucius Institute. (Refunds are not available.)
Class Size: 15 persons
Register now at the Language Center, Room 216
(f)Thai Language Reading and Writing Course for Beginners: June – July 2018
The Language Center will organize Thai Language Reading and Writing Course for Beginners as follows:
Thai Language Reading and Writing for Beginners
Duration: 5 June – 19 July 2018
Dates: Tuesday and Thursday from 17:00 – 18:30 hrs., 2 times/week, Total 20 hours
Course Fee: 2,000 baht
Class Size: 15 persons
Interested persons please register now at the Language Center, Room 216
(i) Korea House Renovation
Email from OFAM (22 Mar. 2018)
Please be informed that renovation of the Korea House has started from Monday, 26 March 2018 and is expected to be ready soon.
Prof. Voratas Kachitvichyanukul / Shanghai, Huzhou, Beijing, P.R. China / 6 – 13 May 2018*
Dr. Indrajit Pal / Sakon Nakhon, Thailand / 22- 25 May 2018*
Mr. Thanh Dan Tran / Hanoi, Vietnam / 28 - 29 May 2018*
Dr. Thanh Dan Tran / Hanoi, Vietnam / 28 – 29 May 2018*
Ms. Panchica Koonchaimang / Seoul, South Korea / 28 – 31 May 2018*
Dr. B.H.w. Hadikusumo / Vietnam / 31 May – 3 June 2018*
Dr. Anil Kumar Anal / Kathmandu, Nepal / 1 – 9 June 2018
Dr. Loc Thai Nguyen / Hanoi, Cantho, Vietnam / 2 – 10 June 2018
Dr. Manzul K. Hazarika / Amaravati, Delhi, India / 3 – 9 June 2018
Dr. P. Abdul Salam / Manila, Philippines / 3 – 9 June 2018
Ms. Rowena Alcoba / Manila, Philippines / 3 – 15 June 2018
Dr. Thi Phuoc Lai Nguyen / Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam / 6 – 10 June 2018
Dr. Yuosre Badir / Hanoi, Vietnam / 8 – 16 June 2018
Dr. Pham Huy Giao / Copenhagen, Denmark / 10 – 16 June 2018
Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai / Gothenburg, Sweden / 10 – 16 June 2018
Mr. Sanjeev Pradeep Jayasinghe / Gothenburg, Sweden / 10 – 17 June 2018
*(Staff or faculty member travelled and returned to AIT prior to documentation received for publication)
Position: China Relations Officer (Office of the President)
Ref. No. 29/18
Deadline: 7 June 2018
Position: Music Teacher (AIT International School)
Ref. No. 15/18
Deadline: 8 June 2018
Position: Administrative Staff (Senior Librarian) (AIT Library)
Ref. No. 12/18
Deadline: 15 June 2018
Position: Administrative Staff (Library Assistant) (AIT Library)
Ref. No. 13/18
Deadline: 15 June 2018
Faculty Position (Assistant Professor or Associate Professor) (School of Engineering & Technology)
Ref. No. Fac 02/18
Deadline: 31 July 2018
Faculty Position: Assistant Professor (School of Engineering & Technology )
Ref. No. Fac 03/18
Deadline: 31 August 2018