Transcript Research at AIT Sustainable development in the context of Climate

Research at AIT
Sustainable Development in the context of Climate Change
Research at AIT
Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change
I. Overview
AIT has been involved in Technological
and
Developmental
research
of
relevance to the region from its
inception.
Sustainable development of the region
has been at the core of major projects
carried out in various parts of Asia.
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Research at AIT
Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change
I. Overview (contd)
Human problems today are global, and we
therefore have an international perspective
in all our activities.
Research in higher education is not only
about increasing competency within
some discrete knowledge fields.
It is also about cultural differences as a
source of potential for creation, innovation,
critical thinking and development.
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Research at AIT
Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change
I. Overview(Contd)
Research oriented towards the sustainable
development of the region, strengthening the
knowledge, development and business
capacity of the region, and supporting
communities
and
their
economic
development and integration into the global
economy.
More than 2000 graduate students carrying
out research projects supervised by over 200
highly qualified and experienced faculty
advisors
458 projects that are currently being
conducted (Dec 2008) with a total budget of
1.8 Billion Thai Baht Bath staffed by 1,000
research and support personnel from 30
countries. 70% of this on value are in
developmental projects
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Research at AIT
Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change
I. Overview
AIT is striving for a distinct profile in certain
strong niche areas.
Maintaining a societal perspective on science,
researchers at AIT produce knowledge for
practical application with high relevance, utility
and economic impacts.
The Institute and its staff is integrated with the
agenda and desires of the stakeholders
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Research at AIT
Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change
Relevant Research
Work in high tech areas and with local agents
and developmental agencies
Some examples
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Research at AIT
Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change
Wetlands Alliance
The Wetlands Alliance is a process of regional collaboration to strengthen
local-level capacity for sustainable, poverty focused wetlands
management.
Aims to improve the livelihoods and food security of the region’s rural and
peri-urban poor based on improved management of wetlands and
water/aquatic resources. It is on these resources the poorest people in the
region depend most.
The Alliance currently engages over 30 partner organizations in the Lower
Mekong Basin region. At the provincial and district level, local partners
develop and implement the work and are the direct beneficiaries of the
capacity development efforts supported by the regional partners. The
complementary strengths of the different partners offers a regional pool of
knowledge and expertise.
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Research at AIT
Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change
Wetlands Alliance
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The Alliance is currently operating in eight
geographic locations in four countries. The
Alliance consists of regional partners
Coastal Resources Institute (CORIN) of
Prince of Songkhla University,
World Fish Center (WorldFish),
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and
Over 30 local partners or Local Change
Agents or LCAs.
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Research at AIT
Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change
High Tech Areas
Robotics and Sensor Networks for Intelligent
Environment
Industrial Robot application development using
sensor fusion and knowledge acquisition.
Automation System Simulation and System
Integration
Intelligent Automation : System integration for
building complete automation systems
Development of a prototype for domestic
autonomous mobile robot system using wireless LAN
ASIC, MEMS design
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Research at AIT
Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change
High Tech Areas (contd)
MECHATRONICS, MICRELECTRONICS and
NANOTECHNOLOGY
Among the first Master level courses in these
specialized areas
Industrial collaboration and specialized professional
programs in these areas
The Center of Excellence in Nanotechnology is
jointly supported by Thailand's Nanotechnology
Center (NANOTEC) to cultivate and foster
Multidisciplinary activities including research and
education in the applications of Nanotechnology in the
developing world . Research includes application of
nano particles, which is suitable for addressing
developmental issues
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Research at AIT
Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change
Thematic knowledge area in Strategy Development
Plan of Institute
“SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF
CLIMATE CHANGE”
Based on :
Considerable experience in the region
Working in the area of sustainable development for more than
2 decades
Consolidating this research for Climate Change under broader
umbrella of Sustainable Development to create niche for ourselves.
A core critical mass of faculty and staff strength in the thematic area
which has been endorsed by various donor agencies and stake holders
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Research at AIT
Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change
Broad Climate Change areas at AIT
Climate Science – study of vulnerable areas using GIS and RS,
disaster preparedness, air quality monitoring and modeling, etc.
Adaptation – eg. major problem in the coastal areas and islands of
Asia, urban, rural and coastal areas, etc.
Mitigation – renewable energy and carbon neutral economies, etc.
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Research at AIT
Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change
II. Current Researches related to Climate
1. ARRPEEC
The
Asian
Regional
Research
Programme in Energy, Environment
and Climate (ARRPEEC) was organized
as a regional network involving a number
of national research institutes (NRIs)
from several countries of Asia.
ARRPEEC funded by SIDA and coordinated by the Asian Institute of
Technology (AIT). And started in 1995.
This program was implemented in response to the UN Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC).
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Research at AIT
Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change
II. Current Researches
1.. ARRPEEC
MAIN OBJECTIVES
Production of high quality policy oriented outputs in the
selected areas of energy, environment and climate research.
Capacity mobilization and enhancement at National
Research Institute (NRI) level through project level joint
activities and fellowships.
Linkage of project level activities in the participating countries
with national, regional and global initiatives for reducing GHG
and other hazardous emissions.
Dissemination of results of the programme among policy
personnel with a view to creating an impact on policy making.
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Research at AIT
Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change
II. Current Researches
1. ARRPEEC
Involved four regional research projects, namely:
1)Biomass Energy in Asia: Assessment and Strategy
Formulation;
2)Small and Medium Scale Industries in Asia: Energy,
Environment and Climate Interrelation;
3)Strategies for Promotion of Energy Efficient and
Cleaner Technologies in the Urban Transport
System; and,
4)Strategies for Promotion of Energy Efficient and
Cleaner Technologies in the Power Sector.
ARRPEEC Phase III involved 22 NRIs representing
seven Asian countries
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Research at AIT
Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change
II. Current Research
2. ARRPET
The Asian Regional Research Programme on
Environmental Technology (ARRPET)
ARRPET
involves
18
National
Research Institutions (NRIs) from 8
Asian countries, namely, China, India,
Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri
Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The issues covered include wastewater,
air pollution, solid and hazardous
wastes. Experience will be used for the
development of waste refineries
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Research at AIT
Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change
II. Current Researches
3. CIDA SEA-UEMA
Southeast Asia Urban Environmental Management Applications (SEA-UEMA)
Project
Project Goal and Purpose Goal
Project Focus
To improve urban environmental
conditions in SEA region.
1. Water and Sanitation
2. Solid Waste
3. Air Pollution
To attain improved implementation
and sharing of sound UEM
policies and good practices
.
With Gender Equality as the
Cross-cutting Theme
Number of projects in the areas of sustainable cities and
Climate change
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Research at AIT
Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change
II. Current Researches
3. CIDA SEA-UEMA
Southeast Asia Urban Environmental Management Applications (SEA-UEMA) Project
Major Activities in the new consolidation phase:
» Awarding targeted scholarships to partner institutions – capacity building
» Implementation of Flagship Projects
» Identification of country nodes in target countries to develop and strengthen national
networks, and conduct local training and disseminate lesson learned and good
practices
» Identification of anchor institutions in target countries to do policy campaign on identified
focal policy issues
» Strengthen integration of gender equality in UEM policies and practices
Geographic Coverage:
Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam
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Research at AIT
Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change
II. Current Researches
4. WATER RESOURCES
One of the earliest programs at AIT
• Extensive work in the region in the area of integrated water recourses
management and integrated coastal zone management
Research projects
• An Assessment of the Socio-economic Impacts of Flood under Climate Change
Conditions in Large Coastal Cities in South and South-east Asia
• Sediment Management in South and Southeast Asia
• Climate Change impact and Adaptation Study for Bangkok Metropolitan region
• UNEP Water Vulnerability Assessment in South and South East Asia
New Report: “Freshwater Under Threat: South Asia” produced by UNEP and
AIT. Identifies key threats to water resources development and management, and
assesses the challenges the region faces in coping with these threats
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Research at AIT
Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change
II. Current Researches
6. DISASTER MANAGEMENT & MITIGATION
Recent intense occurrences of natural disasters all over the earth
leading to massive loss of life and destruction of infrastructure
have grabbed the attention of the world
Receiving attention is disaster risk management–-the know-how
to prepare for such disasters and to reduce their effects.
AIT and its partner institutions are determined to contribute more
toward bringing this know-how to disaster managers and
engineers.
A new academic program was designed to instill the necessary
interdisciplinary capacities to manage and minimize the effects of
disasters in people on the front-lines of disaster response and
preparedness.
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Research at AIT
Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change
II. Current Researches
6. DISASTER MANAGEMENT & MITIGATION
The partners and collaborators of this program are:
Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), USA
International Institute for Geo-information Science and Earth Observation
(ITC), the Netherlands
International Center for Urban Safety Engineering (ICUS), The University of
Tokyo, Japan
University of Washington Extension (UWE), International Tsunami Training
Institute (ITTI), USA
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Research at AIT
Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change
II. Current Researches
6. DISASTER MANAGEMENT & MITIGATION
The partners and collaborators of this program are:
Coastal Resources Center (CRC), University of Rhode Island, USA
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Japan
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), Regional
Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok
Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI), Kyoto University, Japan
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Research at AIT
Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change
II. Current Researches
6. DISASTER MANAGEMENT & MITIGATION
AIT's Habitech Center assists in Post-Tsunami reconstruction
work
The Habitech Center of the School of Engineering and Technology
(SET), AIT, is carrying out the construction of 56 houses in the Baan
Nam Khem Village of the Phangna Province.
Habitech Center is responsible for the design, training, construction,
and supervision of the housing implementation for the EU-ASIA PRO
ECO II B Post-Tsunami Project.
USAID, AIT launch community learning center in Ranong as part of
tsunami recovery
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Research at AIT
Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change
II. Current Researches
6. RETREATING GLACIERS
Monitoring Imja Glacier Lake: Himalayan glacier
monitoring project with Field Server
AIT and partners organizations have successfully setup
Field-Servers (FS) - Internet Field Observation Robots
at Imja Glacier Lake located at an altitude of 5,000m
in the Mount Everest region of the Himalayas in
Nepal. The lake was identified as being one of the
potentially most dangerous glacial lakes in danger of
bursting out and creating a Glacier Lake Outburst Flood
(GLOF).
The Field Servers and data collection infrastructure will
form part of a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood Monitoring
and Early Warning System.
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Research at AIT
Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change
III. Future Plans
RESEARCH GAPS IN CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate Adaptation in Asia: Knowledge Gaps and
Research Issues in South East Asia
Project on “Adapting to Climate Change in Asia:
Identifying Critical Knowledge Gaps” supported through
the Joint DFID-IDRC
Regional consultation to assess regional priorities,
capabilities and research gaps on climate change and
poverty reduction in Asia
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Research at AIT
Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change
III. Future Plans
Universities for Harmonious Cities: Urban Development
Knowledge Network in Asia
A research Cooperation of SIDA and AIT
Objectives:
To utilize City and University linkages to generate knowledge and
build effective public action through research and education in
the domain of Urban Development.
Project Components:
Urban Development Research Component
Capacity Building education and training component
Asia wide Inter country and North South Exchange Study
Teaching collaboration and dissemination of research Outputs.
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Research at AIT
Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change
III. Future Plans
Strategies towards a Low Carbon Economy and their Sustainable
Development Implications
Research Objectives
The overall objective of the proposed study is to analyze the least cost
strategies for GHG emission mitigation in major ASEAN countries, namely
Thailand and Vietnamand
Their implications in the sustainable development in these countries during
the long term planning horizon of 2010-2050.
Expected Outputs
Provide major insights to policy makers in the study countries identify the
least cost strategies for GHG mitigation in the countries Determine major
abatement options identify and the levels of co-benefits (or sustainable
development benefits) of the GHG mitigation strategies.
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Research at AIT
Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change
III. Future Plans
Institute wide sub-groups under the broad area of
SD in the context of climate
• Risk assessment, vulnerability and adaptation
• Renewable energy and carbon economy
• Water resources and management
• Urban and rural sustainability
• ICT4D
• Bio resources and food security
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Research at AIT
Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change
III. Research Strengths in Thematic
knowledge area
• Public sector
• Private sector
Inter-cross disciplinary
• Technology
• Development agencies
• Government consultations.
• Socio-economic aspects
• Managerial aspects
• Intimate knowledge of region
• Policy development
• Strong network of collaborators and
partners
.
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Research at AIT
Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change
III. Future Plans
INITIATIVES IN THE PIPE LINE
1.
Dedicated post doctoral to strengthen
groups by young post doctoral fellows
2.
Internal seed support to form close interdisciplinary
teams
3.
Start Masters course in Climate Change
4.
Restart course in Integrated coastal zone
management (ICTZM) and start program in climate
change – looking for support
5.
Networking and partnership meeting with partners
and donor agencies - 3-5 June 2009
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research
Research at AIT
Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change
Thank you for your attention
Contact for more information:
Prof. Sudip K. Rakshit
Asian Institute of Technology
PO Box 4 Klong Luang
Pathumthani 12120
Thailand
Email: [email protected]
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