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Year: 2022

IUPAC names Chula professor a Distinguished Women in Chemistry

Posted on by Chulalongkorn University

Professor Dr. Supawan Tantayanont, one of the 2021 Distinguished Women in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering awarded by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), opens up about her inspiration in the development of chemistry courses that merit this international recognition, how she maintains her work-family-life balance, as well as her efforts to promote the younger generation’s interest in science education throughout Thailand and ASEAN.

Since the United Nations designated the year 2011 as the International Year of Chemistry to mark the 100th anniversary of Madame Marie Curie — the first female scientist to be awarded the Nobel Prize in 1911–, IUPAC started to present the Distinguished Women in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering awards to women with outstanding achievements in the field from around the world.

Thai women also stand tall among their peers from other nations. In 2011, Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn became the first Thai to receive the award in its initial year.

A decade later, in 2021, Thailand, once again, is made proud when Professor Dr. Supawan Tantayanont, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, President of the Science Society of Thailand Under the Patronage of His Majesty the King, and President of the Council of Science and Technology Professionals, has been chosen for this prestigious award.

“It is rare that women chemists rise to the forefront of fame and recognition, even in developed countries, hence, the inception of this award. The judging criteria are the body of research, leadership, and contribution to global society,” Prof. Dr. Supawan, as a woman who holds many key positions in both local and international science organizations, explained the rationale behind the award that she just received based on her 40 years of dedication to the research and development of chemistry education, creation of model science teachers, and promotion of science studies among young people in Thailand, ASEAN countries, and around the world.

The Starting Point on the Path of Chemistry: a Small Lab Kit

One important research that has brought international fame to Prof. Dr. Supawan is the development of a Small-Scale Chemistry Laboratory aka. Small Lab Kit that received four patents and petty patents under Chulalongkorn University.

Prof. Dr. Supawan talked about the origin of the Small Lab Kit saying that, “after receiving a scholarship to study in the United States, I came back to Chula to Chemistry Laboratory subjects. In those days, the labs were at the old Chemistry 1 Building (now the Art and Culture Building), and the Chemistry 3 Building (now the University Museum Building). The number of first-year students from various science faculties who came to study General Chemistry Laboratory, and Organic Chemistry Laboratory at the Department of Chemistry was steadily increasing to more than 3,000 a year. So, the labs became very crowded, and the safety standards were not as good. And we were interested in finding ways to create safer chemistry labs while maintaining the same curriculum.”

Based on these challenges, Prof. Dr. Supawan has continuously been working on improving the safety of chemistry labs and has initiated the “Safe and Pollution-Reduction Chemistry Laboratory” Project (2000-2002) with funding from Thailand Research Fund (now Thailand Science Research and Innovation or TSRI) in collaboration with 14 researchers from seven institutions, namely Chulalongkorn University, Mahidol University, Srinakharinwirot University, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Chiang Mai University, Khon Kaen University, and the Prince of Songkla University.

“Initially, we were trying to develop safer experiments by adapting those used to teach at both domestic and international universities and designing new methods. We also looked for low-hazard substances to replace old ones and tried to reduce the size of the experiments that will still produce good results, while maintaining students’ learning style, and letting them use the same equipment and glassware. But we found that this still did not meet our main needs.”

The research team agreed on microscale chemistry or small-scale chemistry technique that uses a minimal amount of chemicals in an experiment, but still, yields observable results.

“From the same experiment that requires hundreds of milliliters of chemicals, we reduced the amount to only 1-5 ml or drops, which equaled hundreds and thousand times reduction, while reducing the risk of chemical exposure by hundreds and thousands of times as well. This makes experiments increasingly safer with much less hazardous waste to be disposed of,” explained Prof. Dr. Supawan.

When experiments were scaled down, it was necessary to design new steps of experiment, equipment, and tools.

“In general chemistry, most of the experiments use aqueous solution, so plastic utensils used in medical and microbiology fields, readily available in the market, can be used. Experiments in organic chemistry require heat and organic solvents, which will melt the plastic. Therefore, equipment made of glass or other heat-resistant materials must be used.”

Prof. Dr. Supawan further explained that although small glassware was already manufactured and sold abroad, the prices were high. There was no suitable heating equipment either. So, the project designed a small set of glassware, heating equipment, complete with other utensils, ready for experiments packed in a carrying bag, called a Small Lab Kit.

“Every equipment design takes into account the efficiency and ease of use, safety, and reduction of waste from the experiments, and can be manufactured locally. For example, in the case of small heating kits, we designed a hotplate and aluminum blocks that act as a heat-conducting medium allowing it to be used with various sizes of small glassware. The kit allows observation of both boiling points and melting points of the elements using only one kit. The glassware was also designed to separate the solvent, and be reused without having to dump it, hence lessening the amount of hazardous waste from the organic chemistry labs.”

The Small Lab Kit is approved by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the detailed directions are published on the UNESCO website. Since 2009, Prof. Dr. Supawan has been invited to lecture and conduct workshops to promote the Small Lab Kit in many countries around the world.

Partnership with the private sector: Dow Chemistry Classroom

The research success led to another crucial project: “Dow Chemistry Classroom“– a collaboration between the Chemical Society of Thailand and Dow Thailand Group (DOW), a global chemical giant, to promote Small Scale Laboratory approach to Chemistry classes in secondary schools.

“I intend to make science learning in schools interesting by allowing the students conduct experiments by themselves. We learned that students are less interested in science due to their lack of a great first impression of science subjects in school and that they rarely have the opportunity to conduct experiments. So, I think if we can disseminate this research to enable schools to teach science experiments, it should make young people more interested in studying science,” Prof. Dr. Supawan shared her inspiration for starting this project in 2002 with the support of the PPA Science Foundation that later developed into “Dow Chemistry Classroom” Project in 2013 and is still continuing on today with support from Dow Thailand Group.

“In the Dow Chemistry Classroom Project, we designed lab kits for schools so that their students can do experiments on their own. This will enable students to have a deeper understanding, learn, observe and remember chemical processes and reactions more deeply than those who only read from textbooks,” said Prof. Dr. Supawan.

At present, the Dow Chemistry Classroom Lab Kits present 8 subjects in General Chemistry at the secondary school level. Each kit is packaged in a compact box containing all the ready-to-use equipment needed to perform about 30 experiments, complete with directions, and ways to handle the remaining chemicals. The kits can be refilled for further experiments because the plastic is durable and will last for more than 10 years.

“We scaled-down the experiments and changed the chemicals to non-hazardous chemicals to comply with Green Chemistry principles. This makes it safer for students and teachers than traditional experimentation methods. In doing so, experiments are less time-consuming and can be completed within the class period, leaving enough time for Q&A, and discussion. The kit also uses less energy, and produces very little waste.”

“Dow Chemistry Classroom” is a low-cost, highly safe chemistry lab kit that can be used in regular classrooms. The price per set is only 300-400 baht, depending on the types of experiment, or around 10 baht per experiment.

“Dow Chemistry Classroom saves cost, labor, and time while making learning more convenient and easier, even during the COVID-19 pandemic in which students have to study online from home. Students can still safely perform scaled-down lab experiments under the supervision of online teachers,” said Prof. Dr. Supawan.

A mission to train science teachers in Thailand and the ASEAN region

The “Dow Chemistry Classroom” project not only designs and produces lab kits that are accessible for schools but also focuses on the training of secondary school science teachers. Up until now, nearly 2,000 science teachers from more than 1,000 schools across the country have received training on how to use the 8 types of small chemistry labs. The teachers have also passed on their knowledge to almost 6,000 other teachers, making it possible for over 150,000 students to learn chemistry through experiments.

Behind her success is the dedication of many people. “Everyone volunteered to help – including the Chemistry Society, friends who teach chemistry in various educational institutions, old students, the private sector, etc. I give great importance to this mission, including fundraising for the procurement of equipment, organizing training for more than 400 teachers a year. These teachers receive an introductory lab kit ready to be used to teach students at their schools based on their direct experience,” said Prof. Dr. Supawan.

In addition to the training, Prof. Dr. Supawan started many activities to monitor and assist science teachers, one of which is a science contest “Dow-CST Award” whose winners receive plaques graciously conferred by HRH Princess Chulabhorn Walailak Akra Rajakumari, and prize money sponsored by Dow Thailand Group. Model science teachers are also selected each year.

“Currently, 84 model teachers from the project are working in all regions across the country. IUPAC has praised the project for continuously inspiring youth in science for the eighth consecutive year,” Prof. Dr. Supawan said with pride and added that in 2021, the Dow Chemistry Classroom Project has expanded to various schools nationwide with cooperation from the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC), Ministry of Education.

Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, education on the Dao Classroom Project continue without interruption. At the onset of coronavirus outbreaks in 2020, the project started to experiment with online teacher training for the first time.

“Online training requires a lot of coordination and communication between the participants and the training team, but it was very successful. This year, we are holding online training for the second year and this makes it possible for chemistry teachers from all universities in Thailand to observe as well. At the moment Chula Faculty of Chemistry is also preparing to apply the techniques by delivering the lab kits to students to conduct experiments while studying online,” said Prof. Dr. Supawan.

While the project in Thailand is going well, Prof. Dr. Supawan sees an opportunity to expand the project to ASEAN countries with similar problems to Thailand. The project has received support from Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited, which has branches in many ASEAN countries to develop social responsibility projects (CSRs) in those countries and conduct training for secondary school science teachers. The project has already been implemented in Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia and will begin in the Philippines next year.

Prof. Dr. Supawan said that the ASEAN project will provide training to 100 science teachers in each country once a year for three years. Then each year, 10 model teachers will be selected based on their experiment designs to receive further training in Thailand with teachers from other countries. By the time the project ends, each country will have 30 model teachers who will become trainers of small lab kits. Prof. Dr. Supawan hopes that these teachers will create a network of science teachers in the ASEAN region to promote the concept.

Leading Thailand to the world-class chemistry arena

In addition to being a faculty member of the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Prof. Dr. Supawan has held several key positions, namely President of the Chemical Society of Thailand, President of the Polymer Society of Thailand, President of the Pacific Polymer Federation (2002-2003), and President of the Federation of Asian Chemical Societies (2011-2013). She is the first woman to hold both key regional positions.

In every position, Prof. Dr. Supawan has created opportunities and developed the science industry in Thailand, especially during the years 2007-2013 when she served as President of the Chemical Society of Thailand under the patronage of Professor Dr. HRH Princess Chulabhorn when she took the Chemical Society of Thailand to be a National Adhering Organization (NAO) of IUPAC in collaboration with the Department of Science Service, Ministry of Science and Technology for Thailand to gain more privileges and voting rights on issues that impact the development of chemistry and science of the country.

Prof. Dr. Supawan talked about the role of “IUPAC” which consists of associations related to chemistry representing countries around the world to standardize chemistry knowledge, such as naming conventions for elements, and compounds. It also serves to honor and promote the work of chemists and chemical engineers around the world ranging from youth to Nobel Prize-winning scientists.”

Work-life and inspiration for global success

Prof. Dr. Supawan said that she owes her various achievements throughout her luscious chemistry career to the opportunities she gained from her childhood.

“I’m a kid from the province (Ratchaburi), and this has driven me to excel in my studies. When I put my mind to it, I can succeed. I was admitted to the Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University. Fortunately, my parents gave me full support until I know what I was good at. And that’s chemistry.”

“When I earned my bachelor’s degree in 1973, I still didn’t see many career opportunities. At that time, chemistry companies usually recruited only men for the jobs, so my opportunity was to be a teacher. This meant I had to have a higher degree,” Prof. Dr. Supawan recalled the time when she had to choose an important path in life.

After graduating with a master’s degree in organic chemistry from Mahidol University, she became a lecturer at the Department of Chemistry, Chulalongkorn University. Then she received a Chula-Fulbright scholarship to pursue her doctorate in chemistry at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, USA. Prof. Dr. Supawan returned to teach at the Department of Chemistry, Chulalongkorn University from 1982 to the present.

Upon her return, the Petrochemical Industry Development Project Phase 1 was included in the 5th National Economic and Social Development Plan (1982-1986) by the government. Prof.Dr. Supawan and three other professors from the Department of Technical Chemistry, Department of Materials Science, and the Department of Chemical Engineering were tasked to create the first program in petrochemicals and polymers in Thailand. In addition, Prof. Dr. Supawan was also appointed the project director of the Petroleum and Petrochemical College of Chulalongkorn University (1986-1989).

“These opportunities have allowed me to meet people in the petrochemical industry. Later when I became a consultant to the Petrochemical Group, I developed an understanding of the nature of working in industries where safety is crucial, and there was a missing link with the education of that time. So, we had to adjust the course contents.”

As a professor of science, Prof. Dr. Supawan pays attention to the connection between knowledge and the heart. “Education must not focus only on theories and academics but must cultivate desirable characters in students: curiosity, morals, and ethics. When working in the industries, one should pay attention to work safety, proper disposal of waste in compliance with the law, and a sense of public responsibility, etc.

The role of female chemist and daily family life
Although the world today accepts the roles and abilities of women in the chemical industry, and there are many talented women in the professions of chemistry and chemical engineering, what remains a challenge for women scientists is balancing the role of a professional chemist, motherhood, and household chores.

“When I was still working as a consultant for the Petrochemical Group while holding my full-time job as a professor at the Department of Chemistry, the company driver would be waiting for me at half-past four. I had to use my own money to hire an assistant to help with administrative work and coordinate various tasks. It required a lot of planning, cooking, preparing everything for my family, and making sure my children finished their homework. There are a lot of things needing attention to keep the family happy. This is the burden many women are faced with. Only taking care of the family is bad enough. I’m lucky to have an understanding and supportive husband who appreciates what I’m trying to do for society, and helps out whenever he can both domestically and workwise.”

All this requires “discipline and management skills”, which Prof. Dr. Supawan said is a quality that she inherited from her mother, who is currently 97 years old and still in good health.

“My mother had 10 children. I’m the third child. My mother is a very smart and patient woman. She raised all her children by herself. I grew up being her assistant, so I saw how she managed everything systematically, including housework, kitchen work, home care, and my father’s Chinese medicine business.”

The role of women and gender equality is one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which Prof. Dr. Supawan thinks encompasses more than mere acceptance. Rather, it should also cover promoting people’s talent and potential that everyone must make sure happens regardless of their gender.

The future of science through continuous and sustainable development
Prof. Dr. Supawan is ever committed to her responsibilities by raising the awareness of the importance of science for the future of the country.

“The current societal trend of young people wanting a quick fortune is quite worrisome. They think that this can be easily achieved, like the current online marketplace that requires little knowledge. When people do not own the technology and rely on others and outside factors, what will happen in the future if the tech owners decide that they don’t want to sell the technology anymore? So, I’m thinking of how to make the young generation change their mindset to think in a more sustainable manner,” Prof. Dr. Supawan reflected.

As the President of the Science Society of Thailand, Prof. Dr. Supawan works closely with the National Science Museum (NSM) and many other agencies to communicate to the new generation about hard-earned success that is not superficial in a logical scientific way.

Prof. Dr. Supawan believes in tackling new challenges through collaboration with various agencies in the public and private sectors, to combine expertise and bridge the gaps to bring Thailand into the international scientific arena when possible.

“There are many talented people in our country, but we lack partnership in the development of science. We cannot succeed alone. I am now begging to see a more positive trend especially in the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation. People start to realize that we cannot operate on pure science alone. We have to work with the community to drive the economy and the society to be on par with the international communities,” Prof. Dr. Supawan concluded.

Microcomputer that will help save hearing

Posted on by Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University

Today, ear diseases are powerful factors affecting the quality of life of modern man. These illnesses are often neglected, even though lack of timely diagnosis can lead to inevitable consequences such as malignant tumors and hearing loss. Over 3.5 million diseases diagnosed for the first time have been registered in Russia alone over the past ten years. One of the main problems is the complicated process of diagnosis, which requires a lot of time and effort from both the patient and the medical staff.

To make the process of diagnosing ear diseases less expensive and at the same time more rapid and accurate, Evgeny Shalugin, a 4th-year student at ETU “LETI”, works on his development. It will allow recording and analyzing noises in the human ear during the initial examination, reduce the risk of medical errors, and diagnose illnesses at an early stage.

“At the initial checkup, the doctor usually performs two diagnostic examinations: otoscopy, an examination of the ear cavity to detect visible abnormalities, and auscultation, listening for sounds and noises with a phonendoscope. Most often, this leads to repeated appointments, observations over time, and additional costly examinations such as MRI, CT, and X-rays. It is no secret that tinnitus is a concomitant symptom of many diseases, and its analysis is extremely important for the diagnosis. So, the frequency and spectral characteristics of noise can significantly narrow down the list of possible diseases,” says Evgeny Shalugin, a 4th-year student at ETU “LETI.”

The proposed solution will make it possible to modernize outdated methods of diagnosing diseases and conduct objective studies of noises in the auricular cavity. It is worth noting that the development will also enable scientists to conduct new kinds of research in otolaryngology.

“The disadvantages of the modern diagnostic method are obvious. Firstly, it is extremely subjective, so there is a serious risk of medical errors, which can not only increase the cost of diagnostics but also lead to the deterioration of the patient’s health. Secondly, very often doctors diagnose diseases at late stages when abnormalities begin to show clearly. Finally, MRI and CT scans are expensive, require trained staff and a separate room, and emit radiation that contributes to the inability to dynamically monitor the patient’s condition,” explains the researcher.

The autonomous system will be designed as a microcomputer with a power supply from a battery or network. The device will consist of a single-board computer with software for noise analysis, a touch screen, a sound card and interfaces for connecting peripheral devices, and external memory drives for convenient data transfer. A noise-capturing microphone will also be connected to the microcomputer.

“The canal part of the earmold with the microphone will be inserted inside the ear canal. The principle is somewhat similar to a hearing aid. Further, the microphone will record noises, which will be received and processed by a computer with special software. In the end, all the results of noise registration and processing will be displayed on the doctor’s monitor, who will make further decisions based on the objective noise data,” Evgeny describes the principle of the device.

Ed Vaizey, Natalie Shay and PRS among first guests for LCCM series

Posted on by Global University Systems

Higher education music college LCCM has announced a number of high-profile guests for its weekly Music Industry Mondays talk and networking series.

On Monday 24th January, the Central London college will welcome Ed Vaizey. The former UK government minister for Culture and Digital Economy, now Baron Vaizey of Didcot, will be sharing his views on the music industry. Lord Vaizey, often mentioned in the media as a potential new chair of UK media regulator Ofcom, is widely viewed as a popular advocate of the music and creative industries. Writing passionately in The Times, Vaizey pointed out that the music industry “is not an industry defined only by the big-name artists and labels we all know. It is a rich, deep and highly competitive ecosystem that must be better understood.”

Fast-rising independent singer-songwriter Natalie Shay will join LCCM on 7th February for a special Q&A and live performance involving college students. Natalie has established an ever-growing presence and loyal fanbase through her explosive live performances and unforgettable anthems – selling out Camden Assembly on release of her last single. Her collaborations with major trance artists Kryder (Black Hole Recordings) and Grum (Anjunabeats) have racked up over 4 million streams.

Partnering with industry trade body UK Music, LCCM kick started the free-to-attend Music Industry Mondays series in September 2021, determined to bounce back from the disruptions of the last two academic years. Each Monday during term time at 6PM, the college opens its 120-capacity Music Box venue and fully licensed bar for an evening of music industry discussion and networking. For those who can’t attend on the day, the talks are filmed and edited into full-length episodes to watch back via LCCM’s student cloud portal and UK Music’s MAP network of other higher education providers. Previous guests have included Nadia Khan, Good Soldier Records, The Music Federation, Mute Song, singer-songwriter Carmody and PPL.

The first talk of the new year was from David Martin, CEO at Featured Artist Coalition, followed in the second week of term by Claire Rose, Outreach Manager at PRS for Music, who discussed the PRS Foundation and funding programmes available for artists and musicians. A highly relevant conversation, given unsettling times for live music and the rise in artists choosing to forgo a record deal and release music independently.

LCCM Principal and host of Music Industry Mondays, Anthony Hamer-Hodges says: “We host these weekly discussions to give our students and anyone else who is passionate about making a living in the modern music industry, real insights from top executives, artists, songwriters and decision makers. It’s always a lively discussion with questions from the audience and a chance to network at the bar afterwards. It certainly makes a nice change from all the Zoom lessons during lockdown. We are determined to give our students and the wider London music community the full benefit of the Music Box, our creative and educational hub in the heart of cultural SE1.”

The latest high-profile guests are another indication of LCCM’s position at the crossroads of talent development and higher education. LCCM graduates include BRIT Award winner Tom Walker, and fellow artists and writers Rhys Lewis and Chiara Hunter. Other former students making waves include Marie Dahlstrom, JOY (ANONYMOUS), Sans Soucis and Nathan Challinor, known for his co-writes with BBC Sound of 2022 finalist Baby Queen.

LCCM’s custom-built teaching and artist development facility the Music Box in Central London features a 120-cap entertainment venue and multiple recording studios. Major artists including Kojey Radical, Moses Boyd, Amber Run, Novelist and Kara Marni have spent time rehearsing or recording at the Music Box in recent months, as well as meeting with LCCM students.

EdUHK’s 3Es helps children’s emotional growth

Posted on by eduhk

A vital part of a child’s development is learning to regulate emotions and build relationships: often called ‘socioemotional competence’. To encourage this life-long learning, The Education University of Hong Kong, with the support of the Simon K. Y. Lee Foundation, has created the 3Es project. The project is in its sixth year and its name represents the goals of early prevention, early identification and early intervention, where local children encounter difficulties in reading and arithmetic (hard skills), and in managing emotions and behaviour (soft skills).

The University launched this evidence-based intervention programme in 2015 and it was initially operated in 24 kindergartens, benefiting some 1,400 children and their parents and teachers. Professor Kevin Chung Kien-hoa, Dr Ian Lam Chun-bun at the Department of Early Childhood Education and the 3Es team conducted a study during the programme’s four-year term to measure its effectiveness.

Based on both qualitative and quantitative data collected from the children, results showed that 3Es helped the children’s cognitive control, emotional understanding, emotional expressiveness, empathy and other behaviours intended to help others. These are skills which experts consider crucial for subsistence and success in the 21st century.

The study was published in one top-five% and six top-10-15% ranked academic journals, and the team further expanded the reach of its outcomes by developing several in-service teacher-training programmes. The scholars also shared their work in the form of newsletters, teaching aids and learning activities for parents and children. The learning materials can be downloaded through the 3Es website and social media platforms.

Following on from this success, the 3Es programme was extended in 2019 to reach kindergartens located in economically disadvantaged areas. The Education Bureau has since invited all kindergartens in Hong Kong to participate, using two formats. The first is school-based teacher training, provided by educational psychologists and school development officers. The second format comprises joint school workshops and sharing sessions, enabling kindergartens to learn from each other’s experiences. Both will begin in September 2021 and will run for two years.

“With the right support, children from any background can have a better future,” said project leader, Professor Chung. “We want to provide such support in the early years, together with parents and teachers,” he added.

TU opens “Joint Replacement Center” in early 2022

Posted on by Thammasat University

Thammasat University Hospital strive to reinforce the vision of “Thammasat Hospital 4.0 towards the organization of the future for the people” by preparing to open “Knee and Hip Center” and introduced robotic arm technology to assist in knee replacement for the first time in a government hospital.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pharuehas Tor-Udom, Director of Thammasat University Hospital, revealed that according to the statistics, it was found that there were patients with knee arthritis, hip dysplasia up to 6 million people and the country’s population structure is shifting toward the “Hyper-Aged Society” in the next 10 years, with an aging population that will increase to 1 in 3 of the country’s population.

Osteoarthritis is a disease that causes severe suffering for patients and make the patient unable to help themselves. At present, Thammasat University Hospital provides approximately 1,000 knee and hip replacement per year. It is estimated that after opening the center, it is expected to support up to 4,000 high-quality hip replacements per year.

Thammasat University Hospital recognizes the problems of rheumatic patients and has been committed to the development of orthopedic treatment since the hospital’s early establishment in 1987, and has developed personnel, technologies, and innovations to help relieve pain and make patients experience replacement without suffering and are abble to recover quickly and return home within 3 days.

Thammasat University Hospital have an idea to develop “Thammasat University Hospital Joint Replacement Center” to upgrade treatment and services as a regional leader. There is a team of personnel who are specialized in patients’ caregiving throughout the treatment stages; from diagnosis, treatment, physical therapy, medication, injections, including surgery to provide patients with a better treatment experience and receive a quality replacement that can be used for a long time; to provide services and medical treatment with state-of-the-art technologies in which the surgical robotic arm technology will be used for a more accurate replacement positioning in order to reduce injury to surrounding tissues, helping patients recover well,” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pharuehas concluded.

In this regard, “Thammasat University Hospital Joint Replacement Center” will be one of the new special service forms of Thammasat Hospital as one-stop service to provide convenience in receiving the best service and quality of treatment by expertize medical professors which will be ready in early 2022.

HKAPA School of Dance Dean’s Special Artist Series

Posted on by Communications Office
How could technology play a role in dance creation? With the theme “The Future of the Dancing Body in Virtual Space”, the School of Dance Dean’s Special Artist Series will present its first programme this semester via Zoom on Jan 12, 2022 (Wednesday). Dean of Dance Professor Anna CY Chan, along with choreographer Alexander Whitley and Digital Artist Neal Coghlan, will discuss their work with motion capture and 3D animation software in the creation of digital dance productions. They will also share more on their experiments connecting dancers from remote locations in a shared virtual space using motion capture streaming technology.
Join them & explore the possibilities these technologies present for the future of dance performance: https://bit.ly/3HqHv0G　

UiTM Pahang collaborates with KLPK towards quality education

Posted on by Nurulatika Minhad

Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Pahang Branch Campus signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kumpulan Ladang-Ladang Perbadanan Kedah Sdn. Bhd (KLPK).

The signatories were the Acting Rector of UiTM Pahang, Professor Ts. Dr Mohd Ilham Adenan, and the Managing Director of KLPK, Mr Azizi bin Haji Ahmad. The ceremony was held in UiTM Pahang and witnessed by UiTM Pahang Branch’s Deputy Directors, lecturers from the Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology and the Faculty of Applied Science, along with KLPK’s staff members.

KLPK is a private plantation farm that is committed to delivering high-quality plantation management which involves rubber and oil palm plantation management, cultivation, rubber processing and downstream activities, agricultural and livestock businesses, as well as organic fertilizer production. Apart from being environmentally conscious, its concern on CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) is also reflected through its active involvement in social activities by establishing positive relationships with the local communities. Thus, UiTM’s approach to reinforce its cooperation with KLPK clearly shows its commitment to achieving university goals and strengthening relationships among academicians and KLPK’s administrative members. In addition, UiTM also benefits from the collaboration by being able to produce various high impact projects and contribute to the industry and the community.

Throughout this MoU, UiTM Pahang Branch Campus and KLPK have agreed to enhance the collaboration in terms of consultancy and research, sharing of expertise and resources and organizing symposia, conferences, short courses or meetings that will profit both parties. Additionally, the MoU also seeks to enhance students’ employability by extending internship opportunities for UiTM students and giving them the experience required by the industry. This collaboration also aims to establish and reinforce knowledge transfer between both parties through University Social Responsibility (USR) programmes.

The objectives of signing the MoU is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) No. 4, which ensures inclusive and equitable quality education whilst promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all. It is hoped that the cooperation between UiTM Pahang Branch Campus with KLPK could bring great impact in both academic and research areas. This effort can also strengthen the network between UiTM and KLPK, particularly in efforts toward developing and enhancing knowledge within the industry as well as increasing the visibility of UiTM Pahang Branch Campus.

Thammasat University collaboration with the Lampang Provincial agencies

Posted on by Thammasat University

Asst. Prof. Pimchat Rossutham, Assistant Rector for Student Affairs and Corporate Communications, Lampang Center, delivered the opening remarks at the Memorandum of Collaboration Signing Ceremony along with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sasitorn Theptrakanporn, Dean of the Faculty of Public Health, Thammasat University signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Academic Collaboration entitled “Collaboration in Academic Development, Research and Academic Services” with Dr. Prasert Kitsuwanrat, a Public Health Doctor, Lampang Province, and Mr. Rapeesak Malairungsakul, Director of the Office of the Environment Region 2, Lampang Province and Mr. Sittichai Mungdee, Director of Environmental Management Promotion Division Office of the Environment Region 2, Lampang Province.

The objective of this collaboration agreement is to integrate and promote collaboration in the development of knowledge, class management and joint research studies, personnel development by cooperating in training, internships, study visits, exchange of academic information support to build and develop a network and quality standards for academic service operations, promotion and support in class management, curriculum development as well as the development of sustainable environmental management and public health work. Develop the potential of academic personnel and academic support to upgrade and increase the potential of creating a body of knowledge, creating academic works, research and innovation towards academic excellence to produce personnel, researchers, academics, students in the field of public health who have knowledge and ability to solve public health problems and develop to foster sustainability.

TPU Festival of Russian Language and Culture

Posted on by Tomsk Polytechnic University

The XVII Ten-Day Festival of Russian Language and Culture has finished at Tomsk Polytechnic University. Russian and international students of Tomsk universities, TPU academic and administrative staff, school students and overseas participants from all over the world took part in the ten-day Festival. In total, there were over 800 participants.

This year’s Festival was devoted to the university’s passing the selection for the Priority 2030 program. The participants were able to try their hand in one or several events, among which there was a recitation contest, poem contest, literary saloon, punctuation olympiad and workshops.
All these events were held in a hybrid mode.

“It was the first time when all six Tomsk universities, as well as Volgograd State University, Moscow State University of Technology STANKIN and the Pushkin State Russian Language Institute joined the traditional recitation contest. It proves that our event is progressing to the all-Russian level. Moreover, it was the first time when we held an online punctuation olympiad for students and staff of our university. Everyone liked the idea to check their Russian literacy that not only members of the TPU community but also Tomsk citizens joined us,” says Marina Bokhonnaya, associate professor of the TPU Division for Russian Language.

According to the results of the contests, the organizers selected winners. Francisco Simon Fernando Dala, a TPU student. became the first among attendees of the TPU Pre-University Department in the My Priorities recitation contest. Cui Yuchuan, a student of academic exchange, became the best among international students in the same contest. Simatupang Priscila Lisa Monica, an attendee of the TPU Pre-University Department, won the first place among international students in the 20 30 online poem contest. While, Simatupang Priscila Lisa Monica, a TPU postgraduate, won the Priority 2021 – World Reads Dostoevsky reading prose contest.

“The contest for staff of the TPU Division for Russian Language was held for the first time this year. It was arranged in the format of the famous ‘Open Your Mouth’ championships. The actor of Tomsk Drama Theatre Anton Antonov, the TV presenter Alesya Kurnosova and the museum guide Vadim Lobanov assessed the participants. It was quite interesting to watch colleagues in their new roles,” Marina Bokhonnaya adds.

Marina Nebera, head of the TPU Pre-University Department, became a winner of the My Priorities contest among colleagues. Meanwhile, Elena Ryabchikova, director of the TPU Center for Education Quality Assurance, was the best in the Set Priorities online punctuation olympiad.

Reference:
The Festival of Russian Language and Culture is an annual event arranged by the TPU Division for Russian Language. The Festival aims at the identification and support of talented Russian and international students, school students, demonstration of their achievements in learning Russian, literacy improvement and motivation to learn Russian, as well as promotion of the Russian language and Russian culture.

Annually the organizers do their best to make the event program diverse. Russian and international students studying at TPU and other Tomsk universities, school students, as well as TPU staff and all interested people are encouraged to take part in the following events.

UiTM Kedah Branch strengthens international collaboration

Posted on by Syazliyati Ibrahim

Academy of Language Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA Kedah Branch strengthens its internationalisation agenda by organising an academic event in collaboration with the Language Centre, University Brunei Darussalam. The event was International Innovation in Teaching and Learning & Language Education Conference or i-InTeLEC 2021, which provided an academic platform comprising an innovation competition, a conference, a research workshop on publishing in high-impact journals, and a digital content competition for students.

i-InTeLEC 2021 commenced its work as early as February 2020 when both institutions met for their first meeting for the event on 11 February 2020 in University Brunei Darussalam. The Covid-19 pandemic did not deter the preparations for the event and it was finally held on 9 & 10 November 2021 via Google Meet and APB Kedah FB live. The event as a whole managed to garner more than 127 submissions for all its programmes. On 9 November & 10 November 2021, i-InTeLEC was joined by more than 150 participants both on Google Meet and also APB Kedah FB Live.

i-InTeLEC 2021 also featured Associate Professor Dr. Andrew Littlejohn from UBD as the keynote speaker. Other speakers who are experts in their fields included Dr. Noor Azam Haji Othman, Dr. Juliana Shak, Dr. Ishamina Atirah Muntassir-Gardiner from UBD, and also Professor Dr. Ahmad Mazli bin Muhammad, the former Dean of Academy of Language Studies, UiTM, were also invited to share their perspectives on the future of teaching in the digital age forum.

This event has succeeded in proving that international collaboration is still possible despite the travel restrictions imposed due to the pandemic. Both universities are also looking forward to fostering more academic activities for the benefit of the students and lecturers in the near future.