The Gazette of Chulalongkorn University # Vol.5 Issue3

Vol. 5 Issue 3 July - September 2014

THE GAZETTE OF CHULALONGKORN UNIVERSITY

The Aging Society

P.5-7 //

CU Innovations in Health Care for the Elderly

THE GAZETTE OF CHULALONGKORN UNIVERSITY VOLUME 5 ISSUE 3 JULY – SEPTEMBER 2014

Vol. 5 Issue 3 July – September 2014

News st

Update //ADVISORY BOARD// PRESIDENT Prof. Pirom Kamolratanakul, M.D.

VICE PRESIDENT Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sittichai Tudsri, D.D.S., M.D. Assist. Prof. Dr. M.R. Kalaya Tingsabadh

CU Ranked 1 on the List of Thailand’s Best Universities

by CWUR

ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT Assoc. Prof. Dr. Anongnat Thakoengwit Assist. Prof. Kriengkrai Boonlert-U-Thai, Ph.D.

//EDITORIAL BOARD// EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Assoc. Prof. Dr. Worawan Ongkrutraksa News Editors Jutapan Siripan Robert Bruce Halliday Editorial Coordinator Cattleya Tanthmanatham News Writers Pimchanok Sirichatchaikul Supachai Thonghong Watanya Somphongs Graphic Designer Anakkhawee Srisombutphaibun The Gazette of Chulalongkorn University is produced by Chula International Communication Center (CICC).

Please send comments and ideas to improve the publication to: Chula International Communication Center (CICC), Chulalongkorn University 254 Phayathai Rd., Pathumwan, Bangkok, Thailand 10330 Tel : +66 2218 3280 Fax : +66 2218 3281 E-mail : cicc@chula.ac.th Website : www.chula.ac.th www.cicc.chula.ac.th Facebook : www.facebook.com/ ChulalongkornUniversity Instagram : Chulastagram Line : Chulalongkorn.U

According to Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) 2014, Chulalongkorn University is ranked in 1st place among Thailand’s universities, 49th among Asian universities, and 283rd in the world.

Harvard University, Stanford University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, respectively, top the list of CWUR’s best universities in the world. In addition to Chulalongkorn University, other Thai universities are listed among the world’s best.

Mahidol University places 550th and Chiangmai University 871st.

CWUR’s primary indicators in determining the rankings are quality of education, alumni employment, and quality of faculty, measured by the number of academics who have won major international awards, prizes, and medals; publications, determined on the

basis of the number of research papers that have ňŗŗŌňřŌŋźŐŕźřŌŗŜśňʼnœŌźőŖŜřŕňœŚĢźŐŕĠźŜŌŕŊŌűźŔŌňŚŜřŌŋź by the number of research papers published in ŐŕĠźŜŌŕśŐňœźőŖŜřŕňœŚűźŊŐśňśŐŖŕŚűźňŕŋźʼnřŖňŋźŐŔŗňŊśźňŚź well as patents.

For more information on the ranking of universities in the Asia and Pacific Region conducted by CWUR, please visit http://cwur.org/2014/asia-pacific.html

Congratulations, Class of 2013

For international relations enquiries, please contact: ĶōğźŊŌźŖōźİŕśŌřŕňśŐŖŕňœźĨōōňŐřŚ Tel : +66 2218 3331-5 Fax : +66 2216 1299 E-mail : int.off@chula.ac.th Website : www.inter.chula.ac.th The Gazette of Chulalongkorn University can be read online at http://www.chula.ac.th/blog/cover/ periodicals/cugazette/ COPYRIGHT 2014 CHULA INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATION CENTER (CICC) Son and daughter take their mother on wheel chair for exercise at Suanluang Rama 9 Park.

Juniors, sophomores and freshmen congratulate graduates on their big day.

Chulalongkorn University is again proud to congratulate the graduates of the class 2013 for their academic success, as well as to wish them prosperity in the career and life path of their preference.

Successful graduates, according to the precious moral given by HRH Princess Sirindhorn at the graduation ceremony, will need to be fully aware of their role in the society, their areas of competence and their goals in life. With this awareness in mind, graduates will be able to develop themselves from within while contributing to the good of society by serving as ‘The Pillar of the Kingdom’ in the long run.

The Gazette of Chulalongkorn University

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CU Teams Up with 38 Thai Universities to Prevent Plagiarism via the ‘Akarawisut’ Software

Chulalongkorn University, in collaboration with 38 other Thai institutions, has adopted the use of Akarawisut software, a software program developed

by Chulalongkorn University for plagiarism detection. ľŐśŏźśŏŌźŔŐŚŚŐŖŕźŖōźŗřŖŋŜŊŐŕŎźňźŘŜňœŐğŌŋźŞŖřŒōŖřŊŌ śŖźʼnŌŕŌğśźŚŖŊŐŌśŠűźśŏŌźŜŕŐŝŌřŚŐśŠźŐŚźōŖŊŜŚŐŕŎźŖŕźśŏŌ ŚŐŎŕŐğŊňŕŊŌź Ŗōź śŏŌź ŋňŔňŎŌź śŏňśź ŗœňŎŐňřŐŚŔź ŐŕĠŐŊśŚź on Thai education.

Prof. Pirom Kamolratanakul, M.D., President of Chulalongkorn University, said the University, Őŕź ŗŜřŚŜŐŕŎňź ğřŔź ŗŖœŐŊŠź ňŎňŐশź ŗœňŎŐňřŐŚŔű succeeded in developing the Akarawisut software in 2013. In August of that year, the program was launched and applied to theses of graduating students. Over one thousands theses have been scanned by the plagiarism detection tool and another ŌşŐŚśŐŕŎź ŗřŖŎřňŔź ŊňœœŌŋź ĻŜřŕŐśŐŕź śŖź ŌŕŚŜřŌź ğŕňœŐšŌŋű ŘŜňœŐğŌŋź ŐŕśŌœœŌŊśŜňœź ŗřŖŋŜŊśŚź śŏňśź ŞŐœœź ʼnŌŕŌğśź śŏŌź academic community.

To extend the anti-plagiarism initiative, Chulalongkorn University has worked to promote the use of the Akarawisut program by allowing other universities and educational institutions to adopt the software free of charge. The signing ceremony between Chulalongkorn University and the other 38 institutions marked a unification of force to push Thailand’s academic work to the global standard. In addition, the software

implementation will promote the awareness of self-discipline and academic honesty among Thai students.

The partnership marked the first step in building an academic network between Thai educational institutions to detect plagiarized theses and to prevent students from copying other people’s academic work. The partners are also entitled to access Chulalongkorn University’s academic database, which comprises of theses, dissertations, research results, journals and electronics documents, free of charge until March 26, 2017. Other universities interested in the anti-plagiarism software can contact CU’s Graduate School to have it implemented.

The 38 institutions of higher learning joining the academic partnership are the National Institute of Development Administration, Mae Fah Luang University, University of Phayao, Burapha University, Thaksin University, Sripatum University, Hatyai University, Kalasin Rajabhat University, Chaiyaphum Rajabhat University, Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University, Rajabhat Maha Sarakham University, Roi Et Rajabhat University, Loei Rajabhat University, Sisaket Rajabhat University, Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University, Udon Thani Rajabhat University, Naresuan University, Silpakorn University, Valaya Alongkorn Rajabhat University, Nakhon Sawan Rajabhat

University, Maejo University, Bangkok University, The Eastern University of Management and Technology, Rajapruk University, Huachiew Chalermprakiet University, Thonburi University, Saint Louis College, Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University, Nakhon Pathom Rajabhat University, Nakhon Si Thammarat Rajabhat University, Phuket Rajabhat University, Suratthani Rajabhat University, Kamphaeng Phet Rajabhat University, Chiang Rai Rajabhat University, Chiangmai Rajabhat University, Pibulsongkram Rajabhat University, Phetchabun Rajabhat University and Uttaradit Rajabhat University.

Prof. Pirom Kamolratanakul, M.D. CU President, (center) and the representatives from other Thai universities sign the academic collaboration agreement to use the Akarawisut program.

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CU Highlight

The Aging Society

Aging is an unavoidable biological process that every living thing must experience. There is no cure for this so-called “physical, mental, and health degradation” try as we might to elude it.

CU researchers are working to promote the quality of life and good health throughout the aging process at the national and regional level.

The Aging Society Cluster, headed by Professor Surasak Taneepanichskul, Dean of the College of Public Health Science, places stress on “research on healthy aging targeted at strengthening the sustainability of the way Thai people take care of their health, while also investigating effective medical or technological techniques that can help śŏŌź ŌœŋŌřœŠź ŌŕőŖŠź ňź ŏŌňœśŏŠź œŐōŌŚŗňŕßųź ĻŏŌź ĶōğŊŌź of Higher Education Commission helps fund this research project in the hope of establishing it in the status of a national research institute.

With the ever-growing population of older people in Thailand, Chulalongkorn Un iver s it y st r es s es t h e implementation of regional and international research studies that will help find

solutions to the problems associated with aging.

The Aging Society is only one of 10 research clusters in connection with which Chula researchers have been making observations and collecting data. By undertaking these projects and working śŖźğŕŋźňŗŗřŖňŊŏŌŚźśŖźŚŖœŝŐŕŎźŗřŖʼnœŌŔŚźŊŖŕŕŌŊśŌŋź with the aging population that affect the country’s economy and culture, the research cluster hopes śŖźʼnŌŊŖŔŌźňźŘŜňœŐğŌŋźŕňśŐŖŕňœźřŌŚŌňřŊŏźŐশնŜśŌźŐŕź line with other international institutes.

When asked what problems are widespread among Thais of older generations, and what special projects are being considered, Prof. Surasak named a few important issues that are under study by the cluster. Some important subjects of study being mentioned are gait and balance analysis in Parkinson’s disease patients under the Faculty of Medicine, Developing the Empowerment Model for Women with Osteoporosis (Faculty of Nursing), and Impact of Post Economic Crisis on Lifestyle and Quality of Life of Elderly Thais in the Northeastern Region: A Case Study in Khon Kaen Province (College of Public Health Science).

These are only a few of over 30 ongoing research projects at Chulalongkorn university. Professor Surasuk wants not only to find solutions to

problems related to these issues but also to bring the research to the attention of the public so that our society, better educated on these subjects, will be more aware of what our parents and grandparents are going through.

Other researchers have introduced additional innovations. Prof. Dr. Charnchai Pluempitiwiriyawej from the Faculty of Engineering, for example, has put an in-home health monitoring system into use that will help collect data on the seniors’ health problems through a receptor and CCTV data. Both of these tech systems are linked directly to hospitals ōŖřźśŏŌźʼnŌŕŌğśźŖōźŌœŋŌřŚźŞŏŖźœŐŝŌźňœŖŕŌźňŕŋźŞňŕśź to live independently but cautiously.

For over three years the aging research cluster has been a continuous project, and it plans to further its experiments through by developing its research data and keeping information on local public health concerning seniors, hosting conferences to promote related ŊňŜŚŌŚűźňŕŋźğŕŋŐŕŎźŚŖœŜśŐŖ়śŏřŖŜŎŏźśŌŊŏŕŖœŖŎŠų No one can prevent themselves from growing old, but aging does not always have to come with ňźœŐŚśźŖōźŋŐŚŌňŚŌŚźňŕŋźśŏŌźŋŌśŌřŐŖřňśŐŖŕźŖōźŖŜřźğŝŌź primary senses. Aging is an inevitable process for all of us, but since we can not reverse it, this research can help us to cope with a universal but uncomfortable truth.

The Gazette of Chulalongkorn University

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Cover Story

CU Innovations in Health Care for the Elderly As a result of a steady decline in fertility and mortality over the last three decades of the 20th century, Thailand has experienced a rapid growth in the number of older people in the country’s society. For [OL ÄYZ[ [PTL PU P[Z OPZ[VY` [OL population of older persons will exceed the population of children in 2020.

According to Prof. Dr. Mongkol Techakumphu, Vice President for Research and Innovation, the country’s population is aging rapidly, and within a few years one-fourth of Thailand’s people will be elderly. With the goal of becoming the nation’s research university, Chulalongkorn University has keeping close track of this problem, and is ŌŕŎňŎŌŋźŐŕźřŌŚŌňřŊŏźśŖźğŕŋźŗřňŊśŐŊňœźňŗŗřŖňŊŏŌŚź to alleviating problems connected with an aging society.

Two recent results of this effort that can benefit both seniors and caretakers are the new Indoor Mobility Aids and the CU Walking apparatus.

The Indoor Mobility Aids project, under the leadership of Asst. Prof. Praima Israsena Na Ayudhaya, and Assoc. Prof. Nuannoy Boonvong of the Department of Industrial Design, Faculty of Architecture aims at lessening the dependence of the elderly upon others, as well as reducing caregivers’ responsibilities in caring for elderly people. The project also takes into account cultural differences that can cause Thai people śŖź ŏňŝŌź ŋŐōğŊŜœśŠź Őŕź ŜŚŐŕŎź ľŌŚśŌřŕź ŔŖʼnŐœŐśŠź ňŐŋŚų The innovations consist of a C-frame Transfer Chair and an XX-frame Lift Chairųź ĻŏŌź ğřŚśź Ŗōź

these helps solve problems encountered in śřňŕŚōŌřřŐŕŎźĻŏňŐźŚŌŕŐŖřŚźśŖźŖřźōřŖŔźňźʼnŌŋųźīŐōğŊŜœśŐŌŚ arise when passing through narrow doorways or at bedsides in Thai homes where wheelchair access is limited. In such situations, as when beds are placed in corners, caregivers sometimes have to stand on the mattress in uncomfortable positions to lift the seniors, and in some cases are unable to do this on their own. Then there is the fact that seniors who remain in bed all day may experience rapid physical decline and become more dependent.

<< Prof. Dr. Mongkol Techakumphu Vice President for Research and Innovation

The C-frame Transfer Chair innovation

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Cover Story

The C-frame Transfer Chair requires less effort on the part of caregivers and allows them to transfer patients while in a comfortable position.

It also permits them to lift an elderly person without standing on the bed, and assists in changing positions with a secure hold during transfers.

Furthermore, it allows accessibility to small and narrow spaces. It can be used with mattresses to allow the elderly on their side instead of pulling themselves from the chair as well.

The design of the chair is practical and innovative in that it is fitted with anti-impact round rubber edges that allow a secure hold and function as armrests when folded down.

Its light frame and membrane structure give it easy mobility, and since it is portable, it does not have to be installed as a permanent fixture.

The C-frame Transfer Chair requires less effort on the part of caregivers and allows them to transfer patients while in a comfortable position.

With these two successful innovations, the research team won the Best Presentation Award at the 2009 International Conference at the Royal College of Art, London, UK, and the Outstanding Research Award in the Social Science Supra-cluster category from the Thailand National Research Universities Summit II, Bangkok, in 2013.

If you interested in the Indoor Mobility Aids, please contact Asst. Prof. Praima Israsena Na Ayudhaya at praima.is@gmail.com or call Tel. (66)2218 4499.

Assoc. Prof. Nuannoy Boonvong (left) and Asst. Prof. Praima Israsena Na Ayudhaya (right) are researchers of Indoor Mobility Aids project

In Thailand, elderly people spend much of śŏŌŐřźśŐŔŌźŚŐśśŐŕŎźŖřźœŠŐŕŎźŖŕźśŏŌźĠŖŖřųźThe XX-frame Lift Chair allows them to raise themselves using a minimum of physical effort, and to move from a ŚŌňśŌŋźŗŖŚŐśŐŖŕźŖŕźśŏŌźĠŖŖřźŖŕśŖźňźŊŏňŐřźŖřźśŖźň standing position. Ordinarily, caregivers might have śŖźŗŜœœźŌœŋŌřœŠźŗňśŐŌඦźŜŗźōřŖŔźśŏŌźĠŖŖřűźŞŏŐŊŏźŐŚ strenuous for the caretaker and risky for the person being moved.

Another aspect of its great utility is the chair’s easy portability. It is light and can be folded, and has hidden wheels for easy moving. It is available in a range of colors, materials and styles to match different home interiors.

<< The XX-frame Lift Chair innovation

<< The XX-frame Lift Chair allows the elderly to raise themselves using a minimum of physical effort, and to move from a seated position on [OL ÅVVY VU[V H JOHPY VY [V a standing position.

The Gazette of Chulalongkorn University

Apart from these two successful mobility aids, CU also produced another valuable innovation called “CU Walking.” The development of this apparatus was initiated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mana Sriyutthasak, Dr. Pakpoom Somboon, and Dr. Nitipun Sriboonruengrit from the Faculty of Engineering in collaboration with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Roongroj Bhidayasiri, the director of Chulalongkorn Center of Excellence on Parkinson Disease and Related Disorders, as well as Prof. Dr. Areerat Suputhitada, from the Faculty of Medicine.

CU Walking is specially designed for Parkinson’s patients. Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s disease. According to research

by Thai Red Cross Society, it affects 425 out of every 100,000 Thai people, especially those who live in the central part of the country.

The disease affects the way patients walk, causing them to stop suddenly, and can eventually lead to falls that cause hip fractures or other serious injuries. Hence, Chulalongkorn University recognizes the significance of improving the Parkinson’s patients’ quality of life. One of its innovative features is a Laser Cane to facilitate walking. It projects a laser beam in front of the walking patients while simultaneously producing an auditory signal. Both visual and auditory cues can help Parkinson’s patients walk without having to stop suddenly.

The laser cane projects a laser beam in front of the walking patients while simultaneously producing an auditory signal.

07

Should the patient who is using it fall, the CU Walking device will automatically contact designated electronic devices like mobile phones or tablets.

There are limitations to the use of the Laser Cane, however. In crowded and noisy places with bright sunshine, both the laser beam and the audible signal might be imperceptible. For such situations, an additional device can help Parkinson’s sufferers to walk normally. “CU Walking” is a small box which can produce three sensory signals using light, sound and vibration. It is attached to the belt, and can be adjusted for each patient.

It can also send alerts or messages to caretakers in case of emergency. Should the patient who is using it fall, the CU Walking device will automatically contact designated electronic devices œŐŒŌźŔŖʼnŐœŌźŗŏŖŕŌŚźŖřźśňʼnœŌśŚųźĨźŚśŜŋŠźŏňŚźŊŖŕğřŔŌŋź that patients who use CU Walking experience an improvement in their mobility.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mana added, “Although the device has been patented, the inventors have no commercial intent in developing it, and distribute the devices to Parkinson’s patients. This is in line with Chulalongkorn University’s commitment to aiding and improving society.”

In 2010 Chulalongkorn University in collaboration with Thai Red Cross Society, the Public Health Ministry and the National Health ĺŌŊŜřŐśŠź ĶōğŊŌź ŐŕŐśŐňśŌŋź ňź ŗřŖőŌŊśź śŖź ŊŌœŌʼnřňśŌź HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn being the executive vice president of the Red Cross Society. The project, subsidized by research funds as well as donations, will distribute more than

The CU Walking innovation

200 of the innovative laser canes and on this occasion Her Royal Highness has named the devices, “Royal Parkinson’s Laser Canes.”

Apart from these two devices conceived to help Parkinson’s patients, CU faculty members have invented others to assist the disadvantaged, the sick and the elderly. As the pillar of the Kingdom, CU is determined to put all of the faculties’ expertise and experience at the service of Thailand’s society.

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Award & Honor

Sasin Team Wins Second Prize in 2014 Global Venture Labs Investment Competition (GVLIC)

MBA Sasin’s Redigen beams proudly as second-place winners at the ceremony.

“RediGen”, the MBA student team from Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration of Chulalongkorn University, landed the runner-up spot in the Global Venture Labs Investment Competition (GVLIC) held by University of Texas in the USA. The team from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, emerged as the winner.

GVLIC, formerly Global Moot Corp, is the premier worldwide investment competition, and śŏŌźœŖŕŎŌŚśŲřŜŕŕŐŕŎųźĻŏŐŚźŏňŚźʼnŌŌŕźśŏŌźśŏŐřśŠŲğřŚśź year in which the competition has been held, with 38 international teams from 12 countries participating.

As second-place winners, RediGen was awarded US$5,000. The Sasin team also beat the host team from the University of Texas, winning the US$20,000 prize for best clean energy solution sponsored by Wells Fargo Clean Awards.

Young Journalists to Train at

BBC World News With the world hurtling ahead ever faster and social media becoming the main source of information, it is important that we make sure to get our news from reliable sources.

TrueVisions and BBC World News have joined hands again to host the 12th True Visions – BBC World News Future Journalists Award 2014, in search of enthusiastic and talented young journalists whose abilities combine outstanding writing skills with a deep awareness of what is happening in the world. Over 200 students applied nationwide, but only two winners were selected to be the face of Thailand as they will travel to London for a three-week internship at BBC World News.

Both selected candidates are recent graduates from Chula’s ĭňŊŜœśŠźŖōźĪŖŔŔŜŕŐŊňśŐŖŕźĨřśŚųźķňśśřňŔŖŕźĺŜŒŗřňŚŌřśűźňźğřŚśŲŊœňŚŚź honors student and her classmate Shin Wangkaewhiran will begin their mission to experience the life of an international reporter while also learning about the process of news production. But with their past experience as interns at Thai magazines like DekNaew Magazine and TDCD’s Creative Thailand, the two future journalists should have no problem in presenting viewers with accurate and expertly-reported news in the future.

Pattramon Sukprasert (left) and Shin Wangkaewhiran (right) from the Faculty of Communication Arts receive the News Future Journalists Award and get an internship at BBC World News in London.

(Photo courtesy to True Visions)

The Gazette of Chulalongkorn University

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Best Prize for CU Clarinettists

CU Clarinet Ensemble

Kudos to CU Clarinet Ensemble for their achievement in bringing recognition home from their outstanding performances around the world.

Most recently, the band travelled to Singapore for The Singapore Woodwind Festival 2014, held on June 27-29 at the Yong Siew Yoh Conservatory of Music at the National University of Singapore. Following their performances, the CU Clarinet Ensemble was awarded the top prize in the Ensemble Division. The artists included Wantana Tancharoenpol, Krityanpon Jathupichaipan, Pongwisit Siriwarin, Siriphong Somboon, Thanaphorn Pimphet, Keerati Meesompuech, Akkarapon Dejwacharanon and Suradet Sarn-in. ź ĻŏŐŚźŞňŚźŕŖśźśŏŌźŎřŖŜŗÜŚźğřŚśźśřŐŜŔŗŏźŐŕźňź musical competition. Last year they competed in the Thailand World Music Championships 2013 in the Ensemble Woodwinds category and won a gold medal. In the same year, CU Clarinet Ensemble was invited by the International Clarinet Association to represent Thailand in the Clarinet festival 2013 in the most romantic country in the world. Yes, we’re talking about Italy! Let’s wrap up with a round of applauses for our amazing musicians and keep the medals coming!

CU Student Wins Team Championship at

World Chess Olympiad 2014 Chitaporn Pratuengsukpong, a fourth-year student at the Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University, won [OL ÄYZ[ WSHJL [LHT JOHTWPVUZOPW H[ [OL >VYSK *OLZZ Olympiad 2014, which was held in Norway by the World Chess Federation from 1 through 14 August 2014.

Chitaporn takes part in the national sports development project as a badminton player. Her interest in chess began when she read a novel about the game. When she entered Chula, she had the chance to compete in the Freshmen ĮňŔŌűźŏŌřźğřŚśźŊŏŌŚŚźśŖŜřŕňŔŌŕśźŌŝŌřűźňŕŋźŞŖŕź ğřŚśź ŗœňŊŌųź ĻŏŐŚź ŞňŚź śŏŌź ʼnŌŎŐŕŕŐŕŎź Ŗōź ňź ŚŌřŐŌŚź of chess tournaments in which she participated.

She was proud and very happy to win the ğřŚśźŗœňŊŌźśŌňŔźŊŏňŔŗŐŖŕŚŏŐŗźŗřŐšŌźňśźśŏŌźľŖřœŋź Chess Olympiad 2014 in Norway, the world’s largest chess tournament.

Between her study and her chess duties, Chitaporn said she tries to attain best in class, while lecturers and friends are of great help.

She usually practices chess at night because practice is a must. The champion said time management is vital, as student life must balance academic courses and extra-curricular activities.

“The important thing is to give it your best when you decide to do something. Anything is possible, if we put all of our effort into it,” said Chitaporn.

Chitaporn Pratuengsukpong, winner of Team Championship at World Chess Olympaid 2014

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Research & Technology

Thailand’s First Sperm Bank of Thoroughbred Dogs and Cats at CU’s Faculty of Veterinary Science

At the sperm bank at CU’s Faculty of Veterinary Science, beloved pets are sure to receive the care they deserve.

Sperm bank is a place where semen or sperm cells are stored for future uses that can include ňřśŐğŊŐňœźŐŕŚŌŔŐŕňśŐŖŕźŖřźŐŕźŝŐśřŖźōŌřśŐœŐšňśŐŖŕűźŖřźňŚź ŚŗŌŊŐŔŌ়ōŖřźňźřŌŚŌňřŊŏųźĻŏŌźŞŖřœŋÜŚźğřŚśźŚŗŌřŔź banks were in Iowa City, the United States and Tokyo, Japan. To preserve semen, it must undergo a dilution process using a growth medium to prevent any damage during the cooling process, after which it is kept in special collection tubes made of pressure-tolerant plastics at a temperature of -196 degrees Celsius before being stored in liquid nitrogen. It can be kept for over ten years of they are kept at this temperature, and will be warmed when it is ready to use.

Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Veterinary Science has conducted extensive research on collection of canine and feline sperm and has applied the research results in preserving a sample of feline semen. In the past, despite much research on the preservation of frozen canine semen in Thailand, the results have been unsatisfactory, since the process of freezing the semen of each kind of animal is different and the use of solutions for thawing it and other procedures are complex.

Some other countries have been very successful in developing the procedure. Using frozen semen from a sperm bank for artificial insemination of

canines is widespread in Scandinavian countries like Norway and Sweden.

In 2002, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sudson Sirivaidyapong and Dr. Supawiwat Ponglaohapun from the Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University studied the collection of canine and feline semen to establish a sperm bank to make reproduction of dogs and cats easier and save travelling costs. Male and female animals did not have to encounter each other and perhaps attack potential mates that were unfamiliar to them.

In addition, owners were reluctant to have their male dogs mate with strange females that, they feared, might carry disease. Then there was the fact that some animals were too old to travel and mate but still had viable sperm for breeding. Sperm from high-quality animals that were very old or dead could still be used to produce a large number of healthy puppies with their desirable characteristics.

Finally there is a sentimental factor. Owner of beloved animals that have died will be able to store semen to engender new generations of pups or kittens.

Collecting canine and feline sperm is quite challenging. The breeders require practice because some animals may be afraid or unreceptive to semen collection at the hospital so that in such case it must be done at home, at times with a female present to attract them. With cats, some animals need to be given an anesthetic. The obtained semen must then be laboratory tested for quality by specialists. The tested semen is kept in its liquid nitrogen container until taken for use. ź ĻŏŌź ğřŚśź ŚŗŌřŔź ʼnňŕŒź ōŖřź ŋŖŎŚź ňŕŋź ŊňśŚź Őŕ Thailand is located at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University. Over the 12 years of its operation many dog and cat owners in Thailand have been interested in this service, so there is semen from more than 200 breeds of dogs and cats stored at the faculty, including Beagles, Labrador and Golden Retriever and Pomeranians among the dogs. ź ĻŏŌź ŚŗŌřŔź ʼnňŕŒź ŗřŖŝŐŋŌŚź ŌŕŋŖŚŊŖŗŐŊź ňřśŐğŊŐňœ insemination, which is necessary with the frozen semen. There are some limitations, however. The service can only be provided for animals from households in Bangkok and the outlying area.

A semen container helps maintain the low temperature and keep sperms viable.

In the future, this sperm bank will continue to develop into major resource with sperm from genetically healthy animals that will permit the breeding of healthy dogs and cats in Thailand.

According to the research, over the years that the service has been available many kittens and puppies ŏňŝŌź ʼnŌŌŕź ʼnŖřŕź ōŖœœŖŞŐŕŎź ňřśŐğŊŐňœź ŐŕŚŌŔŐŕňśŐŖŕź procedures and the fertility clinic. It also serves as a centre for research for undergraduate and postgraduate students at the Verterinary Science Faculty. The clinic operates cooperatively with the Zoological Park Organization to collect semen and establish a wild cat sperm bank for the conservation of rare and endangered species.

Anyone interested in making deposits of canine and feline semen at the sperm bank can contact the Fertility Clinic, Division of Obstetrics, Small Animal Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University at (66) 2-218-9764 during working hours.

The inspection of sperm movement is done via a computer program.

The Gazette of Chulalongkorn University

11

Campus & Community

Garbage Dump Fire Calls Attention to Thailand’s Problematic “E-waste” +\TWZP[L ÄYLZ TH` UV[ IL new to Thailand, but the YLJLU[ THZZP]L ÄYL H[ 7YHRZH dumpsite in Samut Prakan province, spreading over six districts for up to eight days, should get people from all parts of society talking about ways to prevent the harmful impact of similar blazes from occurring in the future.

Electronic waste, unlike other types of garbage, deserves better attention while being discarded.

According to Assist. Prof. Dr. Pichaya Rachdawong of the Department of Environment Engineering in Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty ŖōźĬŕŎŐŕŌŌřŐŕŎűźğřŌŚźňŕŋźŌşŗœŖŚŐŖ়ňśźŋŜŔŗŚŐśŌŚź often result from a lack of proper waste management, particularly when it comes to community waste.

Decaying waste generates methane gas, which ŐŚź ŏŐŎŏœŠź ŐŕĠňŔŔňʼnœŌűź ňŕŋź śŏŌřŌōŖřŌź řŌŘŜŐřŌŚź ňŕ effective control system. Moreover, waste from ŊŖŔŔŜŕŐśŐŌŚźŐŚźŖōśŌŕźʼnňŋœŠźŊœňŚŚŐğŌŋźňŕŋźŊŖŕśňŐ় toxic substances from households. Light bulbs, dry-cell batteries and lubricating oils, for example, contain poisonous components. These kinds of waste are harmful to humans and the environment ňŚźśŏŌŠźŊňŕźŊňŜŚŌźŌřŖŚŐŖŕűźğřŌŚűźŌşŗœŖŚŐŖ়ňŕŋź disease. Sometimes the problem becomes even more severe when industrial waste is smuggled to dump sites, making it impossible to quantify and handle the waste using the proper procedures.

The real problem, however, lies in the increasing amount of electronic waste (e-waste) caused by rapid changes in technologies and the rising demand for new gadgets. Nowadays consumers tend to buy new electronic devices more frequently, causing the amount of e-waste to exceed the nation’s capacity to recycle discarded gadgets. According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chavalit Ratanatamskul, also from the Department of Environment Engineering,

over 20 million devices were thrown away last year. The number included as many as 9.2 million mobile phones, 3.3 million media players, 2.5 million television sets and 2 million computers.

Given current growth rate, it is estimated that ĻŏňŐœňŕŋÜŚź ŌœŌŊśřŖŕŐŊź ŞňŚśŌź ŞŐœœź śřŐŗœŌź ŞŐśŏŐŕź ğŝŌź years.

“Thailand still lacks a proper public utility system for waste management,” said Assoc.

Prof. Dr. Chavalit Ratanatamskul. People either dump their e-waste together with other garbage

+\TWZP[L ÄYL PZ VUS` VUL VM THU` ZPTPSHY PUJPKLU[Z caused by inadequate waste management.

or send the unwanted devices to grocery stores because they do not know how to deal with the trash more effectively. The existing recycling plants are small and often fail to respect principles of sanitation. Sometimes they smash the devices into small pieces, handpick valuable metallic parts, then throw out other parts or burn them. This is very dangerous because most e-waste contains various heavy metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium. A number of people, as the Ministry of Public Health’s Department of Disease Control has reported, are currently facing the problem of heavy metal accumulation in their bodies. Moreover, some water sources in communities are also contaminated by these metals.”

Though Thailand is already moving toward the enforcement of an e-waste act, it is vital that all sectors in the community work together to prevent the formation of toxic dumpsites that can lead to incidents like the one at Praksa.

Businesses need to reduce toxic components in their products and come up with convenient designs for recycling. Households need to classify e-waste for easier waste management. Finally, the state must invest in an effective pollution management and control system, including the construction of standardised recycling plants, in order to deal with this urgent national agenda.

Vol. 5 Issue 3 July – September 2014

12

Life @CU

Exchange Student Tells All Chulalongkorn University is the oldest institution of higher learning in Thailand and is regarded as one of the country’s top universities. The trenchant lectures, high quality of admitted applicants, and rigorous study programs in both Thai and international programs have all contributed to the university’s prestige. Every year the University welcomes a number of exchange students into different faculties from all over the world. The number of exchange students increases each year, making the university a true hub for the exchange of intellectual ideas and educational experiences.

Erina Inoue, a Political Science major from Sophia University, Japan chatted with GZCU about her experience as an exchange student. She’s here under the Bachelor of Arts, Language and Culture (BALAC) exchange program for one semester together with many of her friends from Sophia University. Currently, Erina is staying at CU International House, a new campus residences that offers convenience and a modern lifestyle to our international exchange students and lecturers.

Under the ASEAN International Mobility for Students ŭĨİĴĺŮź ŗřŖŎřňŔűź ĬřŐŕňź řŌŊŌŐŝŌŚź ňź ōřŌŌź ĠŐŎŏśź ňŕŋź waived accommodation fee for the duration of her stay at Chulalongkorn University.

Erina (center) poses with her friends at Chula.

“Making new friends is the best part of my exchange program experience, it will be sad when the program ends.”

Do you find the transition hard?

Not so much. Although Thailand is very different from Japan, I feel that some aspects are very similar, which makes everything easier to take in.

How does the learning system differ from that in Japan?

In Thailand the classes can run up to 3 hours long, which I’m not quite used to. Back at home I would have classes for only 90 minutes, twice a week.

Is it hard to make friends?

Erina Inoue, Japanese exchange student from Sophia University

Why did you choose Chulalongkorn University?

I chose Chulalongkorn University because I heard it was one of the best schools in Thailand.

My friends in Thailand always seemed to be very happy when I talked to them about Chula.

schedule through the CU pop bus application.

The place is new and secure. There’s always someone at the lobby so girls who are worried about living alone can feel safe. The location is central to the city so it’s quite easy for me to get around, especially to the Siam Square shopping centers. There are also many markets and cafe’s next to the iHouse, so everything is within a couple of minutes’ reach.

Are there any activities available at the CU iHouse?

There’s a kitchen that we all share and an open outdoor space where all the exchange students like to come out and chat. There is also a study room for us, which is really useful during the exam period.

źź ĬŝŌřŠŖŕŌźŐŚźŚŖźŚŞŌŌśźňŕŋźŏňŗŗŠųźİźğŕŋźśŏŌ people here are very social and easy to talk to so when I attended the orientation ceremony I also made lots of new friends who were in the same position as me, the “new exchange student”.

Also, I was assigned a buddy so he/she can help ŔŌźŖŜśźŞŏŌŕŌŝŌřźİźŏňŝŌźŘŜŌŚśŐŖ়ňŕŋźİźğŕŋźśŏňś really helpful.

What do you like to do over the weekends?

What’s it like staying at the CU International House (CU iHouse)?

What do you like the most about Thailand?

The iHouse is close to Chula and it is very convenient. There’s a shuttle bus that takes us to our faculty and we can keep track of the bus

I enjoy the city because it is very different during the day and night. I feel like there would never be enough time to get to know Bangkok.

During the weekends I like going out with my friends, preferably shopping or strolling around the city. But I will always leave a rest day open to refresh myself before classes start.

The Gazette of Chulalongkorn University

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Event

Exchange Program on Education for Sustainable Development

All Japanese and Thai students and staff get together for a group photo after the presentation.

Since Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) enables all human beings to gain knowledge, attitudes as well as values to determine a sustainable future, universities from all over the world are intent upon integrating such key sustainable development issues into teaching and learning as global warming, biodiversity and sustainable consumption.

From 18th to 26th August 2014, for the second time the Division of Development Education under Organizational Leadership & Policy Development Department at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Education in collaboration with Faculty of Education at Hokkaido University in Japan hosted a symposium on ESD Campus Asia in Hokkaido University, Japan. About 40 exchange students from Hokkaido University, Seoul National University and Korean University from Korea, and Beijing Normal University from China joined this symposium.

Later, from 4th to 13th September 2014, ķřŖōŌŚŚŖřź īřųź ĴňŚňŖź ĴŐšŜŕŖź śŖŎŌśŏŌřź ŞŐśŏź ğŝŌź Japanese students from Faculty of Education, Hokkaido University joined ESD Campus Asia in

Chulalongkorn University. The objectives aimed at creating a supportive academic atmosphere, strengthening a close bond among these universities as well as positively responding to the policies of the Faculty on exchanging students. Discussions held at the event focused on how participating institutions viewed and implemented the program while also covering the role and potential of international collaborative education.

The students joining the program received ğŕňŕŊŐňœźŚŜŗŗŖřśźōřŖŔźśŏŌźŜŕŐŝŌřŚŐśŐŌŚźňŕŋźřŌŎŐŚśŌřŌŋ ESD as their subject of study, as it counted as a credit that could be included in their curriculum in the member universities.

Associate Professor Dr. Charoonsri Madiloggovit, Head of the Educational Policy, Management and Leadership Department and the supervisor of this program, remarked that, “From now on, the faculty will focus more intensively on “Service Learning”, a teaching and learning method that merges learning goals with meaningful community service by developing a policy which the university has long implemented and been committed to as it is an education for ESD.”

Associate Professor Dr. Charoonsri Madiloggovit is the head of the activities held in Thailand for the program.

Vol. 5 Issue 3 July – September 2014

14

Event

Nasi Lemak: Our ASEAN Favorite Dish

Last August, visitors who stopped in at the 3rd Chula ASEAN Week 2014 at Siam Square One shopping mall around lunchtime had a chance to taste a delicious

dish that was usually not on the daily menu. Nasi Lemak was being served.

Singaporean version of Nasi Lemak was prepared by the Uncle Pang Nasi Lemak Bangkok restaurant.

But if you want to try your hand at making it at home, here is a recipe to get you started:

Nasi Lemak is a fragrant rice dish cooked in coconut milk scented with pandanus leaf and, sometimes, lemongrass. It is served with small fried anchovies, roasted peanuts, hard-boiled egg, hot ŚŗŐŊŠźğŚŏźŚňŜŊŌźŚňŔʼnňœźňŕŋźŊŜŊŜŔʼnŌřźŚœŐŊŌŚųźĻŏŌź dish originated in Malaysia, where its name means “fatty rice,” because of its coconut cream richness.

Widely eaten in Malaysia and Singapore, Nasi Lemak comes in many varieties, prepared as it is by different chefs in different cultures. Some notable variations are Malaysian Chinese, Malaysian Indian, Singaporean Malay and Singaporean Chinese. The original version in Malaysia is a typical Southern and Central Peninsular Malaysian breakfast eaten

by Malays.

At the 3rd Chula ASEAN Week, held last August by CU’s ASEAN Studies Center, the

1 Prepare steamed rice with coconut cream, a pinch of salt and some water. Add pandanus leaf and lemongrass for fragrance.

2 Fry peanuts until they turn dark brown and set them aside, then fry the anchovies.

3 Prepare the seasoning paste for the sambal sauce. The ingredients are shallots, garlic and deseeded dried chilies.

4 Fry the paste with shallot rings. Add fried anchovies, tamarind juice, salt and sugar. Simmer on low heat until the gravy thickens. Set aside.

5 Dish up the cooked rice. Serve with fried anchovies, cucumber slices, hard-boiled eggs and the spicy sambal sauce. The dish can be accompanied by pickled and curried vegetables and crispy rice cakes.

Nasi Lemak is rich with a variety of ingredients.

The Gazette of Chulalongkorn University

15

As you may suspect, the sambal sauce is the most important part of a Nasi Lemak meal.

Timing and expertise are required to give it exactly the right degree of spicy savor, and it is not at all simple to prepare the sauce perfectly!

Nasi Lemak is a great choice for any meal throughout the day. In Singapore and Malaysia ŠŖŜź Ŋňŕź ğŕŋź Őśź ʼnŌŐŕŎź ŚŌřŝŌŋź ňœŔŖŚśź ŌŝŌřŠŞŏŌřŌűź from street markets and food centres to schools ňŕŋź ğŝŌŲŚśňřź ŏŖśŌœŚųź ĪŏŖŐŊŌŚź Ŗōź ōŖŖŋŚź śŖź Ōňśź ŞŐśŏź it include fried chicken, squid in chili and other spicy meat side dishes. For those who prefer to soft-pedal the spiciness, there are also deep ōřŐŌŋźŊŏŐŊŒŌŕźŋřŜŔŚśŐŊŒŚűźŊŏŐŊŒŌŕźōřňŕŒŚźňŕŋźğŚŏź cakes to choose from. Isn’t it a delight to explore the tasty diversity of ASEAN cuisine?

A Chef from Uncle Pang Nasi Lemak Bangkok is presenting the special ASEAN dish.

“Chula for T he Thai Red Cross Fair” Pulls in Massive Crowd During July 14-20, 2014, thousands of ŗŌŖŗœŌź ĠŖŊŒŌŋź śŖź ňśśŌŕŋź śŏŌź ÞĪŏŜœňź ōŖřź śŏŌź ĻŏňŐź Red Cross Fair” event held by Chulalongkorn University in cooperation with The Thai Red Cross Society at the CU campus and on the premises of the Thai Red Cross Society. All the proceeds goes to charity projects sponsored by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, who also presided over the opening ceremony at Chamchuri Square Center.

Intrigued by an invitation to “Come to enjoy shopping, food, fun games, edutainment shows, open house and more!” the general public took part in a great array of fun activities ranging from goodies booths selling tasty products from both the Thai Red Cross Society and several royal projects to health-promoting charitable causes as well as a live concert featuring the CU Band and various CU Clubs. There were also a variety of academic contests including speech competitions and English and Thai quiz competitions to win Her Royal Highness’s trophy. CU Open House introduced high school students to CU programs and attractions around the campus. The public could seek free health consultations and have basic check-ups by healthcare professionals. ( YLWYLZLU[H[PVU VM H ÅVH[PUN THYRL[ H [YHKP[PVUHS MLH[\YL VM ;OHP YP]LYZPKL SPML

Vol. 5 Issue 3 July – September 2014

16

Snapshots

Chula for The Thai Red Cross Fair The charity event wound up as an undoubted success. It brought together shopping, food and edutainment in a way no one could resist.

A little girl is enjoying picking her lucky draw.

/PNO ZJOVVS Z[\KLU[Z NL[ H ÄYZ[ OHUK glimpse of college life.

High school students are given a CPR demonstration by current CU medical students.

Traditional Thai dancers add color and excitement to the fair.

Members of the general public receive a free eye examination by the Red Cross Society.

The Public Lecture on “Post-2015 ASEAN : Governance, Innovation, Inclusiveness, Global Engagement” Date: 28 August 2014 Host : Southeast Asian Studies Program, Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University Tel : (66) 2218 9848 Email: seachula@gmail.com

The 2nd International Conference on Lifelong Learning for All 2014 (LLL 2014) Date : 11-12 September 2014 Host : Faculty of Education, Chulalongkorn University Tel: (66) 8 9787 0986 Email: LLL2014.conference@gmail.com

The 2nd International Global Health Forum (IGHF) Date: 2-3 October 2014 Host : College of Public Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University Tel: (66) 2218 8190 Fax : (66) 2255 6046 Email: kanyaratgolf2529@gmail.com

The 14th International Convention of the East Asian Economic Association (EAEA) Date : 1-2 November 2014 Host : Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University Email: 2014eaealogistics@gmail.com Website : www.econ.chula.ac.th/EAEA

Calendar of Events