Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn graciously presided over the Thammasat University Graduation Ceremony at Thammasat University, Tha-Prachan campus, on October 28 - 29, 1999. In this ceremony, the fourth batch of SIIT graduates received their Bachelor's Degree in Engineering/Science.

The number of SIIT graduates was 212, which consisted of 53 civil engineers, three with first-class honors and three with second-class honors; 49 electrical engineers, one with first-class honors and three with second-class honors; 62 industrial engineers, one with first-class honors and four with second-class honors; 32 mechanical engineers; and 16 information technologists, one with first-class honors and one with second-class honors.

Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn graciously presided over the Graduation Ceremony held by the King Mongkut's University of Technology (KMUTT) on 18 October 1999, at the Amporn Garden Hall, the Dusit Palace. In this ceremony, Professor Dr. Prida Wibulswas, the Director of SIIT, received from Her Royal Highness the Certificate of Emeritus Professorship in Energy Technology granted by the University Council of KMUTT in recognition of his invaluable contribution to the University and to the country during 20 years of service at KMUTT. Professor Prida continues to support the work of KMUTT as a member of the University Council.

The Thailand Research Fund (TRF) annually grants Royal Golden Jubilee (RGJ) scholarships to faculty members to support PhD students.  Recently, the third batch of awards was announced, and SIIT received 11 scholarships in this batch, which are for PhD students admitted to the academic year 2000. Faculty members who received the awards are listed below. Also shown are the numbers numbers of scholarships received by other engineering schools in the third batch.

In addition to SIIT, other faculties of Thammasat University received two more RGJ scholarships.  Therefore, the total number of RGJ scholarships received by Thammasat University is 13. The number of RGJ scholarships received by SIIT in the three batches granted so far are 9, 9, and 11, respectively, totaling 29 scholarships.

This year, Associate Professor Dr. Pruettha Nanakorn of the SIIT Civil Engineering Program and Asst. Prof. Dr. Prinya Tantaswadi of the Electrical Engineering Program receive Research Career Development Grants from the Thailand Research Fund (TRF). The objective of this funding is to build up basic research in the areas of science, technology, social sciences and humanities. The goal is for researchers to concentrate on research in order to become experts in specific areas. Expected outputs are publications in international journals. The funding recipients are called TRF Research Scholars.
 

TRF also provides Post-Doctoral Research Fellowships to researchers in Thailand who have a doctoral degree and have worked for not more than 5 years after receiving their doctoral degree. The funding is intended for the researchers to continue conducting research in the fields of their specialization and the outcomes are expected to be published in international journals.

Asst. Prof. Dr. Winyu Rattanapitikon of the SIIT Civil Engineering Program and Asst. Prof. Dr. Suwan Runggeratigul of the Electrical Engineering Program received the Post-Doctoral Research Fellowships from TRF in 1997 and 1998, respectively.
 

From left: Mr. John E. Conrad, President of Lucent Technologies Thailand Inc.; Mr. Boontiam Pitakdumrongkija; Mr. Boonsarn Pitakdumrongkija; Mrs. Usa Pitakdumrongkija; and Mr. Chatchai Bunnag, Chief Operating Officer, Lucent Technologies Thailand Inc.

Mr. Boonsarn Pitakdumrongkija, a second-year student of the SIIT Electrical Engineering Program, is one of the two students who were selected by Lucent Technologies Foundation as Lucent Global Science Scholars from Thailand. The Lucent Science Scholars Program was established by Lucent Technologies to encourage the world's youth to pursue careers in technology. They aim to help develop the next generation of technology-savvy people who will help shape the future of communications.

As a winner of the scholarship, Mr. Boonsarn received a one-time scholarship of US$5,000. In addition to that, the program will also establish a partnership between the students and scientists at Bell Labs at Lucent Technologies headquarters in Murray Hill, New Jersey, USA. On behalf of the Lucent Technologies Foundation, the Institute of International Education organized an award ceremony to recognize Mr. Boonsarn's achievement on 7 December 1999 at the Pacific City Club, Bangkok.

Each year, the Siam Cement Public Co., Ltd. provides a number of scholarships to students with good academic potential. This year, on August 17, the company presented scholarships to six SIIT fourth-year students who ranked the first and second of the Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Industrial Engineering programs. These students were (top row from left) Ms. Surakha Wanphen, Mr. Chalermchai Thanviwatanachaikul, Ms. Nuchana Tiptus, Mr. Raktipong Sahamitmongkol, Ms. Thitiporn Lertrusdachakul, and Mr. Sanchai Dechanupaprittha. The student ranked the first received a scholarship of 30,000 baht and the second received 20,000 baht.

Mr. Chumpol Nalamlieng, President of the Siam Cement Public Co., Ltd. (bottom row, center) presided over this scholarship presenting ceremony. Other representatives from the company were Mr. Aviruth Wongbuddhapitak, Vice President (bottom row, third from right); Ms. Mattana Leongnarktongdee, Public Relations Manager (second from right); and Mr. Manoon Sunkunakorn, Corporate Human Resources Division Manager (first from right). The representatives from SIIT were: Associate Prof. Dr. Taweep Chaisomphob, Assistant Director for Student and Special Affairs (bottom row, third from left); Ms. Wanna Boonkokuae, Chief of Academic Services and Student Affairs Division (second from left); and Ms. Waraporn Thongthua, Acting Chief of Student Affairs Section (first from left).

"I love Thammasat because Thammasat teaches me to love people". With the inspiration of this motto, a Volunteer club in SIIT was founded in 1994. Since then the club has organized a number of meaningful activities that reach out to the society, especially those in the rural areas.

Under the name of "Khrai-Kae Roy Yim Rim Fung Khong" (translated as: Seeking the trace of smile along Khong River), more than 40 SIIT students headed for Ubonratchatani Province during the semester  break in October 1999 with the determination to construct a community center for Koh Kad village and to study the way of life in the rural area. Throughout the one week stay there, the students watched the empty piece of land being transformed into a community center where important events such as elections, community meetings and celebrations could be held in the future. Bit by bit, the students and the villagers laid out the  foundation, the wooden structure and roof, slab, and masonry were added later on. It was not an easy task indeed, but with the help of the villagers and the unity of the students, this community center was successfully constructed as scheduled.

Apart from building the multi-purpose community center the club also organized many activities that involved everyone in the village. In the day time, the students visited villagers' homes to learn about their life styles and to exchange viewpoints. The students also taught the children in the village to sing, create art-pieces and understand the importance of education. At night the students usually held a small concert with the villagers. The happiness in their eyes and laughter are the best reward that quenched the students' tiredness.

Those eight memorable days in Koh Kad village taught the students many valuable lessons about life. The villagers' kindness and simple life style demonstrated another side of life that contrasted sharply with the faster paced life found in the hustle-bustle of busy daily routine of city life.

The members of the SIIT Volunteer Club would like to express their gratitude to the Ministry of University Affairs and SIIT for sponsorship and also to the SIIT Academic Services and Student Affairs Division who gave the fullest support. The club hopes that they will be able to organize such an activity again in the near future.

SIIT Volunteer Club

From left to right:  H. E. Ambassador Hermann Erath of the German Embassy, Bangkok, Mr. Thanat Atchatavivan, and H. E. Prajuab Chaiyasarn, Minister of University Affairs.

Mr. Thanat Atchatavivan, a fourth-year student of the SIIT Industrial Engineering Program, won a consolation prize in the  English Category of the Technology Writing Contest 1999 organized by the German-Thai Chamber of Commerce, Ministry of University Affairs, and the Sixth German Technology Symposium and Exhibition. The theme of the contest was "How modern technology affects our daily life".  Mr. Thanat won the consolation prize for his paper entitled "The Influence on Education of Modern Technology".

The award presentation ceremony held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, on 10 November 1999, was chaired by H. E. Prajuab Chaiyasarn, Minister of University Affairs.
 
 

19 October 1999: A TU Team comprised of 3 students of Thammasat University - Ms. Thankamon Permpoon, a third-year student of the Industrial Engineering Program, SIIT; Mr. Tanya Suevaja, a first-year student of Faculty of Law; and Mr. Phonpit Marayat, a first-year student of Faculty of Allied Health Sciences - won the second prize of the "Talk Show on Youth and Energy Conservation" Competition. The competition was organized by the National Energy Policy Office (NEPO) as one activity of the "United to Conserve Energy Campaign". More than 40 teams from other universities in Thailand participated in this competition. The TU Team won the second prize with an award of 30,000 baht.

Hochiminh City University of Technology, Vietnam

On November 4, 1999, Rector Dr. PhanThi Tuoi of Hochiminh City University of Technology, Vietnam, visited SIIT to discuss collaboration between the two institutes. She is seen in the photo presenting a souvenir from Vietnam to SIIT Deputy Director, Prof. Dr. Sawasd Tantaratana. Accompanying her was Dr. Thuong Le-Tien, Head of Telecommunications Department and Director of the Center for Overseas Study (second from left). Also present in the meeting were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Somnuk Tangtermsirikul, SIIT Institute Secretary (first from left); Asst. Prof. Dr. Kammal Kumar Pawa M.D., TU Vice Rector for General Administration, Rangsit Campus (third from left); Asst. Prof. Dr. Supachart Chungpaibulpatana, Head of School of Industrial and Mechanical Engineering, SIIT (second from right); and a faculty member from the Assumption University of Thailand who escorted the visitors to SIIT.

Kochi University of Technology, Japan

Prof. Hiroshi Shima and Prof. Keizo Baba of the Kochi University of Technology (KUT), Japan, led 7 faculty members and 19 students of KUT to visit SIIT on the 13th November 1999. The KUT delegation was welcomed by the SIIT Director, Prof. Dr. Prida Wibulswas, the Deputy Director, Prof. Dr. Sawasd Tantaratana, 4 faculty members and 9 students of the Civil Engineering Program.

An academic cooperation agreement, including an exchange program for faculty members, researchers, and students between the two institutes, was signed in February 1997. This visit was intended to strengthen the established cooperation and to investigate additional cooperation between the two institutes. The main objective of the students' visit was for cultural exchange.

From Hokkaido University, Japan

SIIT welcomed Dr. Tamon Ueda as a visiting faculty member of the Civil Engineering Program who offered the Course "CE 391: Special Topics in Civil Engineering" during November - December 1999.  In this course, Dr. Ueda focussed on advanced design methodology for concrete and hybrid structures, which is performance-based design.

Dr. Ueda is currently an associate professor in the Division of Structural and Geotechnical Engineering at Hokkaido University, Japan. He obtained his Doctoral Degree in Engineering from the University of Tokyo in 1982.  From 1987 to 1990, he taught at the Division of Structural Engineering and Construction, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Bangkok.  His main research interest is in hybrid structures and retrofitted structures and their design method. He has been actively involved in developing the Asian Concrete Model Code, a part of which is the outcome of the cooperative work between SIIT and Hokkaido University and is the contents of the above-mentioned course.

From CRIEPI, Japan

SIIT welcomed Dr. Hirokazu Kobayashi and Dr. Norikazu Nakashiki as visiting faculty members of the Mechanical Engineering Program in the 2nd/1999 semester. Dr. Kobayashi and Dr. Nakashiki co-taught a special topic course on "Power Generation and Environment".

Dr. Kobayashi was at SIIT during November 8 to December 1, 1999 to teach subjects related to fossil fuel combustion power plants, air pollutants suppression policies and environmental assessment methods. Dr. Kobayashi is a Senior Researcher of the Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI), Japan. His main research interest is atmospheric sciences and he has been working on the development of data analysis systems of satellite borne remote sensors for greenhouse gases.

Dr. Nakashiki was at SIIT during November 26 to December 29, 1999. His lectures covered environmental impacts of power plant construction, nuclear waste, warm water discharge from power plants, and ocean and coastal environment assessment methods. Dr. Nakashiki is a research scientist of CRIEPI. His main research interest is ocean science. Dr. Nakashiki has been working on the environmental impacts assessment of power plant construction and the development of a numerical simulation model on the warm water diffusion. He is also working on global ocean problems such as global warming and CO2 sequestration in the ocean.